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40 




University of the State of New York 



BULLETIN 

OF THE 

New York State Museum 

Frederick J. H. Merrill Director 

No. 32 Vol. 7 
February 1900 

ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



By 

WILLIAM M. BEAUCHAMP S.T.D. 



ALBANY 

UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 
1900 

Ms3ra-Mro-2ooo Price 30 cents 



i 



University of the State of New York 



BULLETIN 

OF THE 

New York State Museum 

n 

Frederick J. H. Merrill, Director 

No. 32 Vol. 7 

February 1900 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF 
NEW YORK 

BY 

WILLIAM m/bEAUCHAMP S.T.D. 



ALBANY 

UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 
1900 

^ r 6 



University of the State of New York 

REOENTS 

With years of election 

1874 Anson Judd Upson L.H.D. D.D. LL.D. 

Chancellor, Glens Falls 

1892 William Croswell Doane D.D. LL.D. 

Vice 'Chancellor^ Albany 



1873 Martin I. Townsend M.A. LL.D. _ _ _ Troy 

1877 Chauncey M. Depew LL.D. _ _ _ _ New York 

1877 Charles E. Fitch LL.B. M.A. L.H.D. - - Rochester 

1877 Orris H. Warren D.D. _ _ _ _ Syracuse 

1878 Whitelaw Reid LL.D. _____ New York 

1 88 1 William H. Watson M.A. M.D. - - - Utica 

1881 Henry E. Turner ______ Lowville 

1883 St Clair McKelway L.H.D. LL.D. D.C.L. - Brooklyn 

1885 Hamilton Harris Ph.D LL.D. _ _ _ Albany 

1885 Daniel Beach Ph.D. LL.D. _ _ _ - Watkins 

1888 Carroll E. Smith LL.D. _____ Syracuse 

1890 Pliny T. Sexton LL.D. _____ Palmyra 

1890 T. Guilford Smith M.A. LL.D. C.E. - - - Buffalo 

1893 Lewis A. Stimson B.A. M.D. _ _ ^ New York 

1895 Albert Vander Veer Ph.D. M.D. - - - Albany 

1895 Charles R. Skinner M.A. LL.D. 

Superintendent of Public Instruction, ex officio 

1897 Chester S. Lord M.A. LL.D. _ _ _ Brooklyn 



1897 Timothy L. Woodruff M.A. Lieutenant-Governor, ex officio 
1899 Theodore Roosevelt B.A. LL.D. Governor, ex officio 
1899 John T. McDonough LL.B. LL.D. Secretary of State, ex officio 
One vacancy 



Secretary 

Elected by regents 

1900 James Russel Parsons jr M.A. 

DIRECTORS OF DEPARTMENTS 

James Russell Parsons jr M.A. t 

Administrative, College and High School defts 
Melvil Dewey M.A. State Library a7id Home Education 
Frederick J. H. Merrill Ph.D. State museum 



CONTENTS 



List of authorities referred to with abbreviations 5 

Territories of aboriginal nations of New York Ii 

Aboriginal occupation of New York 17 

Geographic distribution of sites by counties: 

Albany 27 

Allegany 29 

Broome _ 30 

Cattaraugus 31 

Cayuga 35 

Chautauqua 41 

Chemung 49 

Chenango , 51 

Clinton 54 

Columbia 57 

Cortland 58 

Delaware 58 

Dutchess 59 

Erie 60 

Essex 66 

Franklin 66 

Fulton - „ 67 

Genesee 67 

Greene 71 

Hamilton 72 

Herkimer 73 

Jefferson 73 

Kings 79 

Lewis , 80 

Livingston 80 

Madison 86 

Monroe 92 

Montgomery . „ ICQ 

Nassau 105 

New York 106 

Niagara „ 107 

Oneida 109 

Onondaga 112 

Ontario _ 125 

Orange 130 

Orleans 13 1 

Oswego , 132 

Otsego 134 

Putnam 137 

Queens 137 

Rensselaer 138 

Richmond 139 

Rockland 139 

St Lawrence 139 

Saratoga 141 

Schenectady 142 

Schoharie 143 

Schuyler 144 

Seneca 144 

Steuben _ 147 

Suffolk 148 

Sullivan 150 

Tioga , 151 

Tompkins 154 

Ulster 156 

Warren 157 

Washington 158 

Wayne ^ 158 

Westchester 159 

Wyoming 164 

Yates 164 



lilST OF AUTHORITIES REFERRED TO 



The following works are referred to in the bulletin by the abbreviations 
in the left margin. 

American ass'n for the advancement of science. 

Proceedings. 1887. Camb. Mass. 1887. 
Adams, William. History of Cattaraugus county. 

Syracuse 1893. 
American antiquarian; a bi-monthly journal. 
American archeologist. 1898. 
Auringer, O. C. 

Of Troy, N. Y. Personal letters to Dr Beauchamp. 

Bailey, W. T. Richfield Springs and vicinity. 

Richfield Springs, N. Y. 1886. 
Baird, C:W. History of Rye. {see Scharf, J: T. 
History of Westchester county. 1886. 2 :643- 
709'). 

Barber, J: W. & Howe, Henry. Historical collec- 
tions of New York. N. Y. 1841. 
Bayles, R: M. Historical and descriptive sketches 

of Suffolk county. Port Jefferson, L. I. 1874. 
Beach, Lewis. Cornwall. Newburgh, N. Y. 1873. 
Beaucliamp, W: M. {see Onondaga's centennial, ch. 
3) 

Bolton, Robert. History of the county of Westches- 
ter, N. Y. 1881. 
Cheney, T. Apoleon. Ancient monuments in west- 
ern New York, {see 13th report of State cabinet 
of natural history. 1859. in Senate documents i860, 
no. 89 [e]) 

Child, Hamilton, e'omp. Gazetteer and business di- 
rectory of: 

Albany and Schenectady counties, N. Y. 1870-71. 
Allegany county, N. Y. 1875 

Broome and Tioga counties, N. Y. 1869-70, 1872-73, p. ta-aj 
Cattaraugus county, N. Y. 1874-75 
Cayuga county, N. Y. 1867-86 
Chautauqua county, N. Y. 1873-74 
Chemung & Schuyler counties, N. Y. 1868 
Chenango county, N. Y. 1869-70 
Columbia county, N. Y. 1871-73 
Cortland county, N. Y. 1869 
Crawford county. Pa. 1874 
Erie county. Pa. 1873-74 
Franklin and Clinton counties, N. Y. 1862-63 
Genesee county, N. Y. 1869-70 
Herkimer county, N. Y. 1869-70 



A. A. A. 6. 

AdamB 

Amer. ant. 
Amer. arch. 
Auringer 

Bailey 
Bftird 



Barber 
Bayles 

Beach 

Beauchamp 

Bolton 
Cheney 



Child. Directory 



I Volume and page numbers are separated by a colon; e. g. 2 : 643 means volume 2, page 643. 



LIST OF AUTHORITIES REFERRED TO 



7 



Clark 

Cleaveland 

Comley 

Cowles 

Delafield 

Doc. hist. nr. Y. 

Doty 

^ Dudley 
Eager 

French 

Frey 

Frothingham 
Furman 



Jefferson county, N. Y, 1684-1890 
Lewis county, N. Y. 1872-73 
^ Madison county, N. Y. 1868-69 
Monroe county, N. Y. 1869-70 
Montgomery & Fulton counties, N. Y. 1869-70 
Niagara county, N. Y. 1869 
Oneida county, N. Y. 1869 
Onondaga county, N. Y. 1868-69 
Ontario county, N. Y. 1867-68 
Orleans county, N. Y. 1869 
Oswego county, N. Y. 1866-67 
Otsego county, N. Y. 1872-73 
Rensselaer county, N. Y. 1870-71 
Rutland county, Vt. 1881-82 
St Lawrence county, N. Y. 1873-74 

Saratoga county, & Queensbury, Warren county, N. Y. 1871 

Schoharie county, N, Y. 1872-73 

Seneca county, N. Y, 1867-68 

Steuben county, N. Y. 1868-69 

Sullivan county, N. Y. 1872-73 

Tompkins county, N. Y. 1868 

Wayne county, N. Y. 1867-68 

Wyoming county, N. Y. 1870-71 

Clark, J. V. H. Onondaga; or, Reminiscences of 

earlier and later times. Syracuse 1849. 
Cleaveland, Stafford C. History of Yates county. 

Penn Yan, N. Y. 1873. 
Comley, W. J. History of the state of New York. 

N. Y. 1877. „ 
Cowles, G: W. Landmarks of Wayne county. 

Syracuse 1895. 
Delafield, John. General view and agricultural 

survey of the county of Seneca. (6"^^ New York 

agricultural report, 1850) Albany 1851. 
Documents relating to the colonial history of the 

state of New York, arranged by E. B. O'Callaghan. 

v.i-is. Albany 1853-87. 
Doty, L. Jj. History of Livingston county. Gene- 

seo 1876. 

Dudley, W. R. Cayuga flora. Ithaca, N. Y. 1886. 

Ea^r, S: W. Outline history of Orange county. 
Newburgh, N. Y. 1846-47. 

rrench., J. H. Gazetteer of New York. Syracuse 
i860. R. P. Smith. 

Frey, S. L. Were they mound builders? (see Amer- 
ican naturalist, v. 13. 1879) 

rrotMngham, Washin^on, ed. History of Fulton 
county. Syracuse 1892. 

rurman, G-abriel. Antiquities of Long Island; ed. 
by Frank Moore. N. Y. 1875. 



8 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Gay 

Goodwin 

Gould 

Green 

Hammond 

Harper's 
Harris 

/ Hatch 

Hlldburgh 

Hinsdale 

Hist. mag. 
Hist. Greene co. 

Hough 
Howell 

Jesuit relations 

Johnson 

Jones 

Larkin 

Leclerq 

Macauley 



Gay, W. B. Historical gazetteer of Tioga county, 

1785-1888. Syracuse, N. Y. 1887. 
Goodwin, H. C. Pioneer history; or, Cortland 

county and the border wars of New York. N. Y. 

1859. 

Gould, Jay. History of Delaware county. Rox- 

bury, N. Y. [?] 1856. 
Green, F. B. -History of Rockland county. N. Y. 

1884. 

Hammond, Mrs L. M. History of Madison county. 

Syracuse 1872. 
Harper's magazine. 

Harris, G: H. Aboriginal occupation of the lower 
Genesee country. Rochester 1884. 

First issued in Semi-centennial history of Rochester^ ch. 1-15 
1884. 

Hatch, Joel, Jr. Reminiscences, anecdotes and sta- 
tistics of the early settlers and the " olden time " 
in the town of Sherburne. Utica 1862. 

Hildburgh, W. L. 

Personal letters to Dr Beauchamp. 

Hinsdale, W. G. 

Personal letters to Dr Beauchamp. 

Historical magazine. Morrisania. N. Y. 1873. 
History of Greene county. N. Y. 1884. J. B. Beers 
& Co. 

Hough, F. B: History of Jefferson county. Al- 
bany 1854. 

History of St Lawrence and Franklin 

counties, Albany 1853. 

Howell, G: R. & Tenney, Jonathan, comp. Bicen- 
tennial history of Albany; history of the county 
of Albany, N. Y. from 1609-1886. N. Y. 1886. 

Jesuit relations and allied documents, 1610-1791; ed. 
by R. G. Thwaites. Cleveland, O. 

Johnson, Crisfield. Centennial history of Erie 
county. Buffalo 1876. 

Jones, Pomroy. Annals and recollections of Oneida 
county. Rome, N. Y. 1851. 

Larkin, Frederick. Ancient man in America, n. p. 
1880. 

Leclerq, Chretien. First establishment of the faith 

in New France. N. Y. 1881, 
]yracauley, James. History of New York. N. Y. 

1829. 



LIST OF AUTHORITIES REFERRED TO 



9 



Itlaiidevllle 
Mass. hist. 

Morgan 

Moulton 
Perkins 

Prime 
Randall 

Regents 



Reynolds 
Scbarf 

Schoolcraft. Ind. 

Schoolcraft. Report 

Schoonmaker 

Shaw 
Simms 

Smith 

Smith. Essex 
Smith. Chenango 
Smith. Dutchess 
Smithsonian report 
Squier 

Stone 



Mandeville, G. H: Flushing, past and present; a 
historical sketch. Flushing, L. I. i860. 

Massachusetts historical society. Collections. 2d 
series. 

Morgan, L: H: League of the Ho-de-no-sau-nee 

or Iroquois. Rochester 1851. 
Moulton, J. W. see Yates, J. V. N. & Moulton, J. W. 
Perkins, G: H. Archaeology of the Champlain valley. 

{see American naturalist, v. 13. 1879) 
Prime, N". S. History of Long Island. N. Y. 1845. 
Randall, S. S. {see Historical magazine. 1873. p. 

13) 

Regents report. 1851. {see Senate documents. 

1851. no. 72) 
1859. {see Senate documents. i860. 

no. 89) 

Reynolds, H. L. Mound explorations, {see U. S. 

bureau of ethnology, Rep't of. 1890-91. p. 512) 
Bcharf, J: T. History of Westchester county. Phil. 

1886. 

Schoolcraft, H: R. Historical and statistical in- 
formation respecting the history, conditions and 
prospects of the Indian tribes of the United States. 
6v. Phil. 1851-57. Lippincott. 

Notes on the Iroquois. N. Y. 1846. 

Bartlett and Welford. 

Back title reads Report on the Iroquois. 

Schoonmaker, Marius. History of Kingston. N.Y. 
1888. 

Shaw, S: M. ed. Centennial offering. N. Y. 1886. 
Simms, J. R. History of Schoharie county. Al- 
bany 1845. 
Smith, Harlan I. 

Personal letters to Dr Beauchamp, 

Smith, H. P. History of Essex county. Syracuse 
1885. 

Smith, James H. History of Chenango county. 
1880. 

Smith, P. H: General history of Dutchess county. 

Pawling, N. Y. 1877. 
Smithsonian institution Regents, board of. 

Annual report. 
Squier, E. G. Antiquities of the state of New York 

with a supplement on the antiquities of the west. 

Buffalo 1851. 

Stone, W. L. Reminiscences of Saratoga. N. Y. 
1875. 



10 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Sullivan 

Sylvester 
Thompson 

Towner 

Turner, P. & G. 
Turner, HoL 

U. S. bur. of eth. 

"Watson 

Weise 

Wilkinson 

Wright 
Yatea 

Young 



Sullivan's Indian expedition. New York state — 
Dep't of state. Journals of the military expedition 
of Gen. John Sullivan against the Six Nations of 
Indians in 1779. Auburn 1887. Pub. by state. 

Sylvester, N. B. History of Ulster county. 
Phil. 1880. 

Thompson, B: F. History of Long Island. N. Y. 
1839. 

Second edition 1843. 

Towner, J. A. Our county and its people; a history 
of the county and valley of Chemung. Syracuse 
1892. 

Turner, 0. History of the pioneer settlement of the 
Phelps and Gorham purchase. Rochester 1852. 

Pioneer history of the Holland purchase 

of Western New York. Buffalo 1849. 

Second edition 1850. 

U. S. bureau of ethnology, Rep't of. 1890-91. 

Report on the mound explorations of the bureau 
of ethnology. By Cyrus Thomas. 

Watson, W. C. Military and civil history of the 
county of Essex, N. Y. Albany 1869. 

Weise, A. J. History of the city of Albany. Al- 
bany 1884. 

Wilkinson, J. B. Annals of Binghamton. N. Y. 
1840. 

Second edition 1872. 

Wright, Asher. (see French's Gazetteer of New 
York) 

Yates, J: V. N". & Moulton, J. W. History of the 
state of New York; including its aboriginal and 
colonial annals; published by A. T. Goodrich. 
N. Y. 1824 

Young, A. W. History of Chautauqua. Buffalo 
X875. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



II 



TERRITORIES OF THE ABORIGINAL NATIONS OF 

NEW YORK 

The colonists of New York found its territory occupied by two 
distinct families of Indians having many local divisions but forming 
two great groups as far as land was concerned. From Lake Cham- 
plain on the north a long and narrow triangle would represent the 
homes of the Algonquins^ following the valley of the Hudson, reach- 
ing the Delaware on the west and including the New England line 
and all Long Island. All the New England aborigines, those 
farther south and near the sea, with those of Virginia, were of the 
same great family. This line from Lake Champlain to the Dela- 
ware crossed the Mohawk above Schenectady, and all west of this, 
with most of Pennsylvania was occupied by Iroquoian nations. 
They differed essentially from the others in language as well as in 
habits. 

Colonization soon affected the balance of power. Near the coast 
lands were bought and tribes dispossessed. In the interior the Iro- 
quois procured guns, conquered their foes and took their lands. 
Within little more than a quarter of a century all western New York, 
northern Ohio and much of Pennsylvania and Canada were theirs. 
They had changed the map and to show the true aboriginal dis- 
tribution it seems needful to go back to the beginning of the 17th 
century. The territorial bounds given are not claimed to be exact 
in every detail and yet are based on many facts. Field work^ early 
maps and travels, topographic features, traditions and relics are 
among these. It must be remembered that a large part of each 
territory was not a home but a hunting ground. 

The Fries on the west may first claim our attention. They are 
variously placed south of Lake Erie and inland, traditionally and 
probably reaching the head waters of the Genesee river. They were 
destroyed in 1654 and many of the survivors were adopted by the 
Iroquois. Their southern and western limits are not shown here. 

North of their territory and east of the Niagara river and Lake 
Erie were the Attiwandaronks or Neutrals, most of whose villages 
were in Canada. As the Iroquois grew in power on the east they 



12 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



took the alarm and gradually withdrew their New York towns to 
a safer position west of Niagara river. At one time they may have 
had a considerable population on the east side. The names of some 
of these villages have survived. On the map illustrating the travels 
of Marquette and Joliet we have here " Ka Kouagoga, nation 
detruite." Creuxius's map of 1660 places Pagus Ondiasacus and P. 
Ondieronii just east of Niagara river and P. Ondataius west of the 
Genesee. Eighteen Mile creek has its Seneca name from the Kah 
Kwahs who were of the Iroquoian family also. This seems the 
southern boundary of the Neutrals. 

Another nation of the same family occupied the southern line of 
New York, along the Susquehanna and its larger branches. On 
very early maps they appear as the Gachoi or Gachoos: close 
to them were the Capitanasses. Their Iroquois foes gave them 
scant room in New York but they were in close alHance with others 
of the family in Pennsylvania. 

The Five Nations were the Iroquois proper, forming a con- 
federacy a little before 1600 A. D. Their western line was then 
the Genesee river but in a man's lifetime their conquests reached the 
Mississippi. The Sonnontouan or Seneca territory lay east of the 
Genesee river and reached the high land between Cayuga and 
Seneca lakes. Originally it extended but little south of the more 
western group of lakes. They were comparatively early occupants. 
It is not unlikely that their territory may have included the 
Genesee valley at that^time, but they had no villages then west of 
the river, which was practically their boundary Hne until the 
Neutrals withdrew. 

The Cayugas, who had several names when first known, had 
Owasco lake on their east side. By right of conquest they at last 
reached the Susquehanna. 

The early Onondaga boundary on the east was Chittenango 
creek, and one of their earliest towns was little over a mile west of 
Cazenovia lake. Following the creek the line crossed Oneida lake 
and passed through Oswego and Jefferson counties, in the last of 
which they claim origin. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK I3 

The Oneidas lived mainly on Oneida creek and in its vicinity, 
but their territory extended east of Utica^ following a generally 
north and south line as its eastern boundary. The northern half 
was a wilderness. Some place the boundary at Littlefalls. 

The Mohawks were about two days journey west of the Hudson 
and thus far the Mahikans claimed. Before 1626, however, the 
Mohawks had a castle east of Schoharie creek from which they 
were driven. Thence to the Hudson was a border land always un- 
occupied in time of war. During this war Saratoga came into 
Mohawk hands as was stated when they sold it to the whites. 
They considered Split Rock on Lake Champlain their northern 
limit, but the whole west shore of the lake was practically theirs as 
the east once had been. 

The Mahikans were the most northern nation of the Algonquin 
family in New York, occupying both banks of the Hudson and for 
some distance west along its upper waters. Saratoga was once in 
their territory. They claimed the land for two days journey west 
of Albany and farther south their claim was good. Their southern 
limits were below the Catskills, and some place them still farther 
south. 

South of these were several small nations of this family whose 
names and locations are somewhat confused. The Manhattans were 
at New York island and a little above, the Pachami at Fishkill, the 
Waoraneaks at Esopus, the Wappingers in the highlands. 

A general early name for the Long Island tribes was the Matou- 
wacks; though in a way distinct, all came under the sway of the 
Montauks. A general classification will be given following Wood's 
History of Long Island without discussing minor points. He 
assigns the Canarsies to Kings county and Jamaica; the Rockaways 
to Rockaway, Newtown and Jamaica; the Merikokes and Marsa- 
peagues from Rockaway through Queens and into Suffolk on the 
south side; the Matinecocks from Flushing through Queens to 
Freshpond in Suffolk on the north side; the Nessaquagues from 
Freshpond to Stonybrook; the Setaukets from Stonybrook to 
Wading River; theCorchaugs from Wading River through Southold 
on the north side; the Manhansetts were on Shelter Island; the Seca- 



14 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



taugs reached from the Marsapeagues to Patchogue; the Patchogues 
to Southampton, while the Shinnecocks dwelt from Canoe place 
to Montauk, where the Montauks lived. There were other unim- 
portant tribes but Httle known. 

These territorial divisions are indicated by colors and confined 
to one period. In every part there are traces of earlier nations more 
or less mentioned in the accompanying notes. The boundary line 
established in 1768 followed the Susquehanna up to Owego. 
Thence it ran due east to the Delaware a little north of the present 
state line, and up the Mohawk or west branch of that river till it 
reached a point directly south of the mouth of the Unadilla. A line 
due north and mainly along that stream struck Wood creek west of 
Fort Stanwix. Northward and eastward it was determined by pre- 
vious purchases. 

Those familiar with Mr L. H. Morgan's map of Ho-de-no-sau- 
nee-ga, or the territory of the people of the Long House after their 
conquests, will observe that the boundaries on the small map show- 
ing national distribution differ somewhat from his, partly from 
showing an earlier condition, but for other reasons as well. That 
eminent writer said, "A boundary line would seem at first to be 
a difficult problem in Indian geography. But a peculiar custom of 
our predecessors has divested this subject of much of its embarrass- 
ment, and enabled us to ascertain with considerable certainty the 
territorial limits of the nations of the league. The Iroquois rejected 
all natural boundaries, and substituted meridianal Hnes. This 
appears to have resulted from the custom of establishing them- 
selves upon both banks of the streams upon which they resided. . . 
Inland lakes were never divided by a boundary line; but the line 
itself was so deflected, that the entire circuit of each lake might be 
possessed by a single nation. The natural limits which rivers and 
lakes might furnish having been thus disregarded, and straight lines 
substituted, the inquiry is freed from some of its difficulties." 

Mr Morgan, however, forgot that irregular ridges instead of 
streams, sometimes become boundaries, though straight lines might 
be carried along or over these. Another matter was overlooked, 
that national boundaries changed from time to time by mutual 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



15 



agreement. Aside from conquest there can be no doubt of this. 
In 1654 and later, the foot of Oneida lake was certainly in the 
territory of the Onondagas, their village there being well known 
for 50 years. Yet at a later day the Oneidas not only held the 
lake, but reserved a fishing place on its outlet, three miles below. 
Deep Spring was certainly on the line between the Oneidas and 
Onondagas after the revolution, but it is almost as evident that 
the Onondagas at one time owned Cazenovia lake and its outlet. 
Mr Morgan himself divided Cross lake by the eastern line of the 
Cayugas, while the Onondagas had clearings west of it. He also 
placed Sodus bay, well known as the Bay of the Cayugas, in the 
Seneca territory. The Cayugas themselves at one time had villages 
north of Lake Ontario, and on the Susquehanna at a later day. 

It will be seen, also, that the Mahikans are here placed on both 
sides of the Hudson^ at Albany and vicinity. Wassenaer wrote 
distinctly of " the Maikans, a nation lying 25 (Dutch) miles on 
both sides of the river, upwards." They alone sold Killian Van 
Rensselaer a tract of two days inland on each side of the river; 
a map of his patent will show very nearly their western claims. At 
the Saratoga purchase, in 1683, some Mahikans were present and 
quit-claimed any titles to those lands, which the Mohawks had con- 
quered from them. Their lands extended into Massachusetts, where 
they took refuge in 1630. They were Algonquins, having close 
family relations with those east and south of them. The Minsis or 
Munseys were of the same stock, being a part of the Delaware 
people. Though distinguished locally^ the tribes from Kingston to 
Westchester county are often classed as Esopus Indians. 

The Susquehanna river was held in Pennsylvania by the Iroquois 
family. Of these the Gachoi, or Gachoos, alone had land in New 
York^ nor did they live there long. Below them were the 
Capitanasses and the Minquas; the latter being the Andastes of 
the French. Collectively and later, all these were known to the 
English as Susquehannas or Conestogas. 

A brief summary is given of the traces of aboriginal occupation 
near the boundaries of New York but outside of the line. South 
of Lake Champlain and in New England the Algonquin sites pre- 



i6 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



sent little of interest. The same may be said of New Jersey and 
eastern Pennsylvania. Mr Squier observed that above Wilkesbarre, 
" still further to the northwest, near the borders of New York and 
forming an unbroken chain with the works of that state, are found 
other remains." These extended still farther south and passed into 
Ohio near Lake Erie. The line reached Toledo, and many of the 
simple earthworks had double walls. West of Niagara river there 
was a line of earthworks commencing on the east of Elgin 
county, Canada, and nearly reaching Detroit. Early and recent 
ossuaries were frequent at the west end of Lake Ontario and 
northward into the Huron country. This was in Simcoe county, 
Canada, where Mr A. F. Hunter some years ago located 218 
villages and 122 ossuaries. Some have been added since, and 
in 1899 he published accounts of 49 villages and 24 ossuaries 
in the town of Tiny and vicinity. On both sides of the Bay 
of Quinte was a group of curious mounds, usually arranged 
in pairs and mostly built of stone. They reach from the 
east line of the early Huron territory to Deseronto. Mounds 
of a different character are found on the banks and islands 
of the St Lawrence, and another group of earthworks occurs near 
Prescott. These are of the Iroquois type. Scattered camps occur 
below these, and at Montreal the early seat of the Mohawks is 
confidently placed. Relics are not numerous there. Some distance 
below that city in 1636 the Canadian Indians pointed out spots 
where the Iroquois had recently lived. Prof. George H. Perkins 
said that on the Vermont side of Lake Champlain " remains of 
ancient settlements are very rare, and there is no sure evidence of 
long continued occupation of any locality near the lake." At 
Swanton he found a cemetery with long stone tubes and native 
copper beads, similar to those of the Mohawk valley. 

One excellent work has not been quoted, and yet deserves atten- 
tion. This is the History of the Indian tribes of Hudson river, by 
E. M. Ruttenber, 1872. This judiciously classifies these tribes, their 
homes and changes, and may be consulted with great advantage^ 
and in the main with full confidence. A single error of importance 
is one on page 69, where he identifies the Minquas with the Minsis, 
both names being Algonquin words^ and thus easily confused. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 17 

ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 

Gov. DeWitt Clinton was the first to treat of the New York 
earthworks in a prominent way, and his memoir on them was long 
a standard. His accounts are good, but necessarily brief and with 
some natural errors. Rev. Samuel Kirkland had previously de- 
scribed some forts in the Seneca country, often quoted from his 
journal. Rev. Thomas Robbins described an earthwork in Onon- 
daga county in 1802, and Rev. John Taylor gave accounts and plans 
of several forts in Jefferson county in the same year. The illustra- 
tions of these are very regular in form and nearly all can be located. 
His journal appears in the third volume of the New York docu- 
mentary history. 

Brief notes relating to this class of antiquities will be found in 
other early journals, some being of much value. Others appear in 
the various town and county histories published during the last 
half century. Josiah Priest's odd and popular work on American 
antiquities contains notices of a few, all at second-hand and with 
curious deductions. Some are grouped and described in James 
Macauley's History of New York. Joshua V. H. Clark's Onondaga; 
or. Reminiscences of earlier and later times, marked an era in the 
illustration and description of early works. It is to be regretted 
that his plans of these were not more carefully prepared, but for 
some of them he depended on other men. His dimensions are 
often doubled, but his accounts are of great value. 

Mr Henry R. Schoolcraft gave notes on a few New York an- 
tiquities in his report on the Iroquois, with plans and descriptions 
in his well-known style. Something may be gathered from these. 
Then came Mr E. G. Squier's judicious work, devoted entirely to 
the subject, and at once affecting prevailing opinions. He repro- 
duced Mr Clark's matter, but wisely omitted some of his plans. 
His own careful field work stands every test, though limited by 
means and time. His book gives a general view of New York 
antiquities which is now of priceless value. The surveys were care- 
fully made and the conclusions sound, his opinions having changed 
after he wrote on the monuments of the Mississippi valley. 



i8 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



F. B. Hough did good work in his histories and reports, being 
our fullest authority on the antiquities of northern New York. 
A. T. Cheney prepared a paper for the regents reports, on the 
earthworks of Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. All wish that 
these reports had been extended. L. H. Morgan's League of the 
Ho-de-no-sau-nee or Iroquois has a map of their home territory with 
recent trails. Of the early homes and history of that great people 
he said little, but as a record of later Seneca life in every phase his 
work is priceless. It takes little note of any Indian towns before 
the revolution. 

Dr Frederick Larkin's Ancient man in America adds much from 
his own field work to Mr Cheney's account of Cattaraugus county. 
Rev. Robert Bolton's History of the county of Westchester has a 
long list of sites, mostly of recent date. L. L. Doty's History 
of Livingston county gives an extended account of places occupied 
in that part of the Seneca territory. George H. Harris has ably 
and fully dealt with the still earlier occupation of the lower Genesee 
valley, where he was a conscientious worker,, and in Andrew 
W. Young's History of Chautauqua some additional matter will 
be found. Onondaga's centennial contains a full account of that in- 
teresting field by Rev. W. M. Beauchamp, in which the important 
camp sites, so little understood before, have a place. S. L. Frey 
has ably described notable sites in the Mohawk valley, the most 
recently occupied of any part of New York. Valuable facts have 
come from other authorities yet to be quoted. In the initial work 
of showing the connection between abandoned sites and historic 
events and times, great credit is due to Gen. John S. Clark of 
Auburn. By actual field work and vigorous reasoning, he solved 
many mysteries, and traced back the Iroquois in their migrations 
for nearly 300 years. The benefit was not merely in his own per- 
sonal investigations. He directed others aright and their work 
became more definite and yielded better results. 

A few years ago Cyrus Thomas was employed in preparing 
an account of the earthworks east of the Rocky mountains, and 
engaged Rev. W. M. Beauchamp to report on the Huron-Iroquois 
territory in general, but more particularly on that comprised within 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 19 

New York. A map accompanied the mamiscript report and out 
of this grew a more extended description, taking in the whole state, 
with both Iroquois and Algonquin villages, and earlier towns, 
camps and burial places. This has been gradually enlarged from 
time to time, though still capable of expansion. Several counties 
have been minutely explored and much material was thus prepared 
for publication, but other counties have had so little attention that 
no complete account can yet be given. A few months' field work 
might yield some important results, but much information has been 
rapidly gathered from intelligent and experienced correspondents. 
There has been however a demand in the present work for at least 
a prehminary map of the early aboriginal occupation of New York, 
which may prove the simplest and quickest preparation for some- 
thing more complete. The following notes are arranged by coun- 
ties, with proper numbers for each. Quotations are made from 
many works, usually with references, as a full transcript would 
often occupy too much space. Many uncredited accounts are the 
result of the writer's own field work or research, continued through 
many years. Other notes may be adopted according to the faith 
reposed in their authors. 

Reference has been made to Mr Squier's change of opinion re- 
garding New York earthworks. His words in regard to these may 
well be quoted here, as they appear in his Antiquities of New York 
and the west, published in 1851. On page 9 he says, in speaking 
of earlier writers whom he had mentioned, " By none were pre- 
sented plans from actual surveys, of any of the ancient works of 
the state; a deficiency which, it is evident, could not be supplied 
by descriptions, however full and accurate, and without which it 
has been found impossible to institute the comparisons requisite 
to correct conclusions as to the date, origin and probable connec- 
tions of these remains. It has all along been represented that some 
of the inclosures were of regular outlines, true circles and ellipses, 
and accurate squares, features which would imply a common origin 
with the vast system of ancient earthworks of the Mississippi valley. 
Submitted to the test of actual survey, I have found that the works 
which were esteemed entirely regular are the very reverse, and 



20 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



that the builders, instead of constructing them upon geometric prin- 
ciples, regulated them entirely by the nature of the ground upon 
which they were built. And I may here mention, that none of the 
ancient works of this state, of which traces remain displaying any 
considerable degree of regularity, can lay claim to high antiquity. 
All of them may be referred with certainty to the period succeeding 
the commencement of European intercourse." 

In the main these statements are true. The nature of the surface 
usually affects the outline of the work, but within a radius of a 
few miles the writer has examined three earthworks and one stock- 
ade on level ground, where the inclosure was a true circle, and all 
were prehistoric. But the Iroquois, whatever their relations to 
them, were descendants neither of the so-called mound builders, nor 
of any of the earlier visitors in New York. A study of their relics 
makes this evident. 

In regard to the situation of New York earthworks, ^Ir Squier 
says, on page lo, " Mr Clinton was unable to learn of the occur- 
rence of any remains upon the first terrace back from the lakes^ 
and upon the basis of the assumed fact of their non-existence, ad- 
vanced the opinion that the subsidence of the lakes and the forma- 
tion of this terrace had taken place since these were erected — a 
chronologic period which I shall not attempt to measure by years. 
This deduction has been received, I beheve, by every succeeding 
writer upon the subject of our antiquities, without any attempt to 
verify the assumption upon which it rests. I have however found 
that the works occur indiscriminately on the first and on the 
superior terraces, as also on the islands of the lakes and rivers." 

On pages 138-40, he discusses the question as to the builders of 
these works. The relics were " identical with those which mark 
the sites of towns and forts known to have been occupied by the 
Indians, within the historic period. The pottery taken from these 
sites and from within the supposed ancient inclosures, is alike in 
all respects, the pipes and ornaments are undistinguishable, and the 
indications of aboriginal dwelUngs are precisely similar and so 
far as can be discovered, have equal claim to antiquity. Near many 
of these works are found cemeteries in which well preserved skel- 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



21 



etons are contained, and which, except in the absence of remains 
of European art^ differ in no respect from the cemeteries found 
in connection with the abandoned modern towns and castles of the 
Indians. . . I am aware that the remnants of the Indian stock 
which still exist in the state, generally profess total ignorance of 
these works. I do not however attach much importance to this 
circumstance. When we consider the extreme likelihood of the 
forgetfulness of ancient practices^ in the lapse of 300 years, the lack 
of knowledge upon this point is the weakest of all negative evi- 
dence." 

The writer is fully in accord with Mr Squier on all these points, 
and can not forbear quoting a story from Schoolcraft's report on 
the Iroquois, page 211, "Abraham Le Fort says that Ondiaka was 
the great chronicler of his tribe. He had often heard him speak 
of the traditions of his father. On his last journey to Oneida he 
accompanied him. As they passed south by Jamesville and Pom- 
pey^ Ondiaka told him that in ancient times, and before they fixed 
down at Onondaga, they lived at these spots. That it was before 
the Five Nations had confederated, but while they kept up a 
separate existence and fought with each other. At length they 
confederated, and then the fortifications were no longer necessary 
and fell into disuse. This is the origin, he believes, of these old 
works, which are not of foreign origin." They actually passed the 
villages of 1654 and 1696. Other traditions were still farther out 
of the way. 

Mr Squier states his change of opinion on pages 11 and 140: 
" Misled by statements which no opportunity was afforded of veri- 
fying, I have elsewhere though in a guarded manner ventured the 
opinion that the ancient remains of western New York belonged 
to the same system with those of Ohio and the west generally. . . 
In full view of the facts before presented, I am driven to a conclu- 
sion little anticipated when I started upon my exploration of the 
monuments of the state, that the earthworks of western New York 
were erected by the Iroquois or their western neighbors, and 
do not possess an antiquity going very far back of the discovery." 
He thought the small earthworks of northern Ohio belonged to 



22 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the same recent period and people. With one statement of the 
result of his work, Mr Squier may be left for the present: ''In 
the short period of eight weeks devoted to the search, I was enabled 
to ascertain the localities of not less than loo ancient works, and 
to visit and make surveys of half that number. From the facts 
which have fallen under my notice^ I feel warranted in estimating 
the number which originally existed in the state at from 200 to 250." 
Nearly the latter number of defensive earthworks and mounds alone 
are now known. The total will not be far above his estimate unless 
he included simple stockades. 

It will be seen that the Iroquois sites formed distinct groups in 
their early territory. Each of the historic Five Nations thus ap- 
pears, but there are other groups as wxll. Nearly all the Algonquin 
tribes were near the Hudson river or by the sea. In Jefferson 
county is a very large group of the Iroquois type; near Buffalo 
is another of the same character and in Cattaraugus and Chautau- 
qua counties still another. Camps and small hamlets usually follow 
the less elevated lakes and rivers, where fishing was good and 
travel easy. Few sites are found on Lake Ontario, because villages 
there would have been too much exposed to enemies, and canoes 
to frequent storms. Forts were usually on high land, remote from 
large streams, but not invariably. Trails crossed rivers at well- 
known fords, which became favorite stopping places. Paths 
varied as villages were removed, and were determined by the nature 
of the land. When long used they were worn deeply in the earth, 
and some still remain. 

The location of aboriginal dwellings depended on a variety of 
circumstances. In a certain way those nations termed sedentary and 
agricultural were migratory, moving their towns every 10 or 12 
years. When the land was worn out or wood was too far off, the 
women gave the signal, and the town went elsewhere. Sometimes 
it was but a mile or two, often much more. Other migrations were 
less formal. The Onondagas entered that valley a few at a time, 
and gradually crossed to the west side of the creek,, in the first 
half of the i8th century. In times of war defensive positions were 
chosen on the hills, and these were quite retired if the nation was 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



23 



weak. In such cases a favorite place was on a ridge between two 
deep ravines. When peace came, or the nation grew strong, more 
accessible towns were built on lower lands. This was notably the 
case with the Mohawks and Onondagas. In any event due regard 
was had to the soil. Highland or lowland, our aborigines always 
shunned a stiff clay when possible, and chose a sandy or gravelly 
loam. This was the common rule even in temporary camps. Shal- 
low lakes and bays, or their shallow parts were preferred to deep 
water as usually affording the best fishing grounds, and the fords 
and rifts of rivers were chosen for the same reason. Around such 
spots successive camps or village sites may appear, covering quite 
an extent of time. In a similar, way the Huron-Iroquois were af- 
fected by geological conditions. Fishing and hunting advantages 
determined their camps, but their towns had regard to the culture 
of the fields. A fertile soil, easily worked but in a secure situation, 
was one of the first requisites. Of course water must always be 
near. 

Ancient earthworks, of which but two or three exist near the 
Mohawk, increase in frequency westward, becoming numerous in 
the territory of the Onondagas, and of their probable ancestors in 
Jefferson county. They are often of a generally elliptic or circular 
form, more or less irregular according to the nature of the ground, 
but sometimes a single straight or curving bank defends a point 
between two ravines. Usually there is an outside ditch, and one 
or more gates. It has now been definitely ascertained that some 
of these banks, at least, supported palisades. Of course there was 
no ditch at the gateways. 

Mounds of earth are extremely rare in the eastern counties, and 
the few known seem much older than the Iroquois occupation. 
Only one of importance has been definitely reported east of Onon- 
daga lake, and some small ones near the early trails on and about the 
St Lawrence river. From Onondaga lake to the western line of 
the state they increase in frequency. A few ossuaries occur in Jef- 
ferson county, but they are most common from Cayuga lake west- 
ward, though not frequent in any place. Instances of a common 
symmetrical or radiating burial are occasionally found. Rarely is 



24 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



there anything indicating the great Huron feast of the dead. Burial 
customs varied greatly, nor were the changes far apart in time. 
Graves of the early Iroquois period often contain no relics, and 
are generally marked by depressions rather than elevations. Open 
grain caches have been mistaken for these. 

In historic times defensive works were generally of palisades, 
peculiarly arranged with upright and cross timbers. The quadruple 
Oneida palisades attacked by Champlain in 1615 may have required 
no holes, and extended into the shallow pond. Some Mohawk 
palisades were double and have left no traces. The single or triple 
palisade required holes for the upright posts. In some, these holes 
were from 18 inches to 2 feet deep^ Galleries ran along the inter- 
secting tops of the pickets. These were reached by ladders from 
within and were useful in defense. The gates were sometimes sur- 
mounted by human figures or other fantastic designs carved in 
wood. Carvings or paintings often adorned the gables of the long 
houses, which were furnished with many fires. The outlines of 
many of these houses may still be traced, but the length was hardly 
a national Iroquois distinction as some have supposed. Circular 
lodges were often used. Blackened or burned earth always appears 
in an aboriginal camp or town of long occupation. The fireplaces 
of these may be several feet deep, a hole being made at the outset 
for the fire. 

When New York was first known, all the aborigines living near 
the Hudson river and the ocean were of the Algonquin family, 
using labials in their words, by which they were mainly distin- 
guished from the Iroquois. West of this territory all belonged to 
the Huron-Iroquois family, which extended into Canada, Ohio and 
Pennsylvania, without speaking of remote southern branches. 
These used no labials, all words being uttered with the open mouth. 
Part of these were the Five Nations, before whom the rest 
soon disappeared. These nations still survive and are the historic 
Iroquois^ comprising the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas 
and Senecas. The Tuscaroras were added in 1714. Their terri- 
tory shows the most abundant signs of occupancy, but their towns 
were not of great age. It must be remembered that they built 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



25 



nearly a hundred stockades or earthworks in every century,, so 
that the time of their rule becomes a simple problem in arithmetic. 
After they became intimate with the whites they held their towns 
somewhat longer. 

Earlier than these resident lords of the soil were the visitors from 
many parts of the land. The historic importance of their camps 
has been hitherto overlooked by writers in general, but they are 
deserving of the most careful attention, and for this reason have 
a prominent place here. Some of these early comers left curious 
and beautiful articles^ of which the Iroquois knew absolutely noth- 
ing, and of the age of which we ourselves have no very clear idea. 
Like our summer sportsmen^ all however sought the fishing places, 
for there they found abundant food. 

The arrangement of descriptions of sites by counties is somewhat 
arbitrary, but this is a matter of convenience rather than taste. 
The natural grouping would be by nations, all the Mohawk sites 
being described in order, and the others in the same way. The result 
would be confusion. The Onondaga territory is well known, but 
during and after the revolution they had a large village near Buffalo. 
The Tuscaroras once lived in Madison county, with villages else- 
where. Their home is now near the Niagara river. The Senecas 
are and were in places far apart. As for the rest, the early comers 
camped and traveled as they pleased. 

Unless a map could be pubHshed on a large scale, as charts are 
often prepared for private use in archeologic work, it would be im- 
possible to represent all sites large and small, but several of those 
in close proximity may be placed under one number. The com- 
pilation and rearrangement of plans scattered through many 
volumes and the addition of many others, will serve to perpetuate 
and popularize the work of other laborers in this field, whether liv- 
ing or dead. Most of such work is done in such an unselfish spirit 
that we have little hesitation in avaihng ourselves of it. In fact so 
much was done directly in the interest of the state^ that there is 
already a proper claim upon it. The new plans have come from 
many sources, professional or otherwise, which are more or less ac- 
curate in detail. In all cases they add much to our knowledge of 



26 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the sites represented. In nearly every part of New York, men have 
readily responded to requests for new material, or corrections of the 
old. Much time and expense have thus been saved by correspond- 
ence with persons familiar with local fields, whose knowledge must 
have been sought in any case. The judgment of some of these is 
that the work of investigation has only begun in the fields in which 
they work, and in the state at large this is more clearly the case. 
The accompanying map and the following notes must be studied 
with this understanding. It is a preliminary survey, full in some 
parts, scanty in others, but preserving what is known and making 
fuller and clearer knowledge possible in days to come. 

It might have been expected that in a treatise on the early homes 
of the aborigines of New York, more would have been said on the 
details of those homes. There is no lack of material; in fact there 
is so much that it would have its best place in a paper specially de- 
voted to aboriginal life. How forts and houses were built, how 
water was provided, how fields were cleared and tilled, how lands 
were divided and owned, may have a definite relation to the dis- 
tribution of our early tribes, but all these things would seriously 
encroach on the small space we can now give to the mere location 
of forts, cemeteries, camps and towns. 

As a rule there is little difficulty in distinguishing Iroquois habita- 
tions. The earlier ones invariably have brown pottery, and usually 
implements of bone and horn, with small triangular arrowheads. 
The Algonquin settlements are restricted in range, and will be found 
in their proper territory alone, which they entered almost simultane- 
ously with the Iroquois. Both were very recent comers. There will 
be no attempt now to distinguish the earlier visitors by sites or 
rehcs. The latter are generally scattered, the former were occupied 
by several in turn. It is sufficient to say that the camp sites have 
revealed many unsuspected facts concerning early life here. 
Enough is known to show the character and tastes of these early 
tourists, and often to indicate the places whence they came. With 
greater care in investigation the sequence of their visits might ap- 
pear. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



27 



In his Antiquities of New York Mr Squier spoke of the importance 
of an earthwork near Elmira, as showing the presence of paUsades 
in these banks. Others of hke character have been since noticed 
in several places. In a letter to the writer J. S. Twining said of 
a Jef¥erson county earthwork that the ''pickets had left their forms in 
the sand on the inside of the ditch, and on top of the embankment. 
They had been brought to a blunt point, and were from six to eight 
inches in diameter, and placed about 10 inches apart. There were 
simply the holes left in the sand, which, as the pickets decayed^ were 
refilled with surface soil. This on carefully digging from the side 
would show each post's place, "as the color of the sand differed from 
the soil." 

Col. Charles Whittlesey, in describing Ohio works, doubted 
whether such traces ever appeared, and whether wood could be long 
preserved. In some cases it may. In examining post-holes in one 
fort to test their depth, the writer found no wood in the shallower 
ones. The posts had been uprooted in falling. In a deeper one was 
the charred end of a hemlock picket which had been there for 300 
years. In another stockade, of 50 years later date, pieces of oak 
pickets about two feet long were taken out. In the peculiar early 
construction of Iroquois forts, holes were not always necessary, and 
seldom exceeded two feet in depth. The intervals depended on the 
style and strength of the wall. Usually the holes are in a shallow 
trench, often described as a ditch, though this gives a wrong im- 
pression. 

Geographic distribution of sites^ 

Albany county. Mr Schoolcraft thought the Normanskill, or 
Tawasentha, a place of Mohawk burial, but knew of no graves there. 
Its mouth was not in the Mohawk territory; part of Albany county 
having been purchased of the Mahikans. Tawasentha means a 
waterfall, and there is little ground for the story of an early general 
council between the Dutch and Iroquois there. 

Trails led from the Hudson to the western streams, and along these 
scattered reHcs are found, but there were no villages of importance. 
In the state museum are arrowheads from Bethlehem, Guilderland, 



28 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Loudonville and Watervliet, and ceremonial objects from Albany 
and Bethlehem. The principal trail was from Schenectady to 
Albany, and surface finds have been made in the sand fields between 
Schenectady and Karners. 

1 The Unawat's castle is on an island at the mouth of the 
Mohawk^ on Van Rensselaer's map of 1630. 

2 A large camp site is near the arsenal at West Troy, 100 rods 
from the river. Thick spears^ arrowheads, scrapers, net sinkers, and 
a few ceremonial stones are found. 

3 There was much cleared land at Albany. Father Jogues wrote 
in 1644 that the Dutch " found some pieces of ground all ready, 
which the savages had formerly prepared.'* 

4 The Mohawks afterward had a fishing place at Cohoes, accord- 
ing to De Vries. 

5 A trail led across the Helderbergs to the Schoharie valley. 
The Indian Ladder was on the site of the present Indian Ladder 
road, one mile from Guilderland station. In a niche where the 
rocks were 20 feet high a tree was felled against them, the lopped 
branches forming a ladder. It was in use in 1820. — Harper's, Oct. 
1869 

6 There were many relics in New Scotland, with camps at Clarks- 
ville and on the Hotaling farms. — Howell, p. 908 

7 Camps along the Oniskethau creek. — Howell, p. 908 

8 Camps on the Slingerland flats. — Howell, p. 908 

9 "Mr Brayton says that in digging the turnpike road, in ascend- 
ing Kiddenhook hill, on the road to Bethlehem many human bones, 
supposed to be Indian, were found. . . at a spot where the 
soil is light and sandy. On the hill above his house is a level field, 
where arrowheads have been found in large numbers." — School- 
craft. Report, p. 226 

10 In Coon's meadows on Catskill creek and on the outskirts of 
Preston Hollow the Stockbridges had recent camps. This is in 
Rensselaerville, where there were trails in 171 1. 

11 P. M. Van Epps notes some reHcs about the lakes in Knox 
and Berne. There was a small camp on Thompson's lake. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



29 



It is said that the Mahikans had a fort on an island at Albany 
when the Dutch came there. Messrs Dai^kers and Sluyter visited 
the remains of a fort at the end of an island, thought to have been 
built by the Spaniards. This they did not believe but said " That a 
fort has been there, is evident enough from the earth thrown up." 
It has been recently claimed that this was a French fort, built in 
1540. — Weise, p. 12. This is supported by a note found on the map 
of 1614, thus translated: "But as far as one can understand from 
what the Maquas say and show, the French come with sloops as 
high up as to their country to trade with them." There is no men- 
tion here of a fort, and the reference seems to be to the visit of 
Jacques Cartier to the Mohawks^ in 1535, when they dwelt at Hoche- 
laga in Canada. They came into New York late in that century. 

Allegany county. i Caneadea, the last Seneca village on the 
Genesee, was at the mouth of Caneadea creek. — Morgan, p. 436. In 
the Smithsonian report for 1879, -E. A. Byrnes reported a ceme- 
tery near Caneadea and at the mouth of Black creek. E. M. 
Wilson of Belfast wrote in 1896, "Between 15 and 20 years ago Mr 
Byrnes and I visited an old Indian cemetery which had been opened 
at that time near the village of Houghton in Caneadea. With the 
exception of one stone pipe nearly everything found in the shape 
of implements was made by white men." 

2 Tlie Seneca village of Karathyadirha in 1766 was at Belvidere, 
on the Genesee and at the mouth of Van Campen's creek. — Doc. hist. 
N. Y. 7:722,. E. M. Wilson furnished the plan of fig. 14, on a 
scale of 200 feet to the inch. It is an earthwork in Angelica, one 
and one half miles north of the N. Y. L. E. & W. railroad station of 
Belvidere, 80 rods west of the Genesee river, and on a partly inclosed 
plateau. A stream is on the west, and the river flats on the east. It 
is a half circular bank, with a gate in the center and an outside ditch. 
The plateau is about 60 feet high, and the wall 450 feet long. It is 
an early site, with stone implements and pottery. 

3 Near Phillipsville, now Belmont, and in Amity, not far from 
Belvidere were three forts. On the largest of these were eight old 
trees, on one of which was painted a turtle over a canoe. — Barber^ 
p. 86. Mr Wilson knew of only one work near Belmont. Dr E. E. 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Hyde, of that place, remembered the pickets of the fort north of that 
village and west of the river. They were set deep in the ground in 
parallel lines, and burned off close to the earth. The two lines were 
several feet apart and 20 rods long. He mentioned a mound. 
Fig. 7 is from his sketch, on a scale of 300 feet to the inch. North 
of the railroad bridge were caches on both sides of the river, but far 
from the fort. There were many relics near. 

4 Mr Wilson reported a work of a different class, known to the 
settlers of the town of Wirt, in the southwest part of the county." 

5 Owaiski was south of Portage, near the junction of Owaiski 
creek and Genesee river. 

Broome county. i Recent village on the west side of the river 
at Chenango Forks, and north of the bridge. The cemetery was on 
the east bank. — Smith. Chenango, p. 193 

2 Village site south of the Susquehanna, and east of the most 
western creek in Vestal. In an area of two acres are found flakes, 
arrowheads, hammers and pottery. A. F. Barrott reported this and 
several other sites in Vestal and Union. This is east of Tracey 
creek. 

3 On the north side of the river and northeast of the last named 
is a similar but very much larger site, with fireplaces, celts and 
hammers. These are found over 15 acres of land. It is west of a 
creek flowing west of Union. 

4 A similar site on the south side of the river, and west of the 
creek at Vestal. 

5 Round Top hill is west of Union and east of the creek before 
mentioned. The site is at the base of the hill and north of the river, 
extending over many acres. Very large celts and other common 
reHcs have been found. 

6 Chugnutts was a large, recent town on the south side of the Sus- 
quehanna, at the village of Vestal and was burned in 1779. — Sullilvan, 
p. 24. Some Oneidas, Tuscaroras, Skaniadarighroonas, Chugnutts 
and Shawnees, settled at Chugnutts in 1756. — Doc. hist. N. Y. 7:50 

7 A bluff on the north bank of the river east of Union contains 
a cemetery. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



31 



8 South of the last site and of the river are many shell heaps in 
the bank. 

9 An island of about 10 acres in Big Choconut creek, southeast 
of Vestal, has earthenware and a few arrowheads. 

10 Chenango, or Otsiningo, was four miles north of Binghamton, 
in the town of Chenango and on that river. — Sullivan, p. 24. In 
1758 there lived three nations at Otsiningo, the Shawnees, Nanti- 
cokes and Mohickanders. — Doc. hist. N. Y. 7 :2^o. Castle creek, 
on the west side of Chenango river, was so called from the Indian 
castle at its mouth. — French, p. 181. Many silver ornaments were 
found near Binghamton. — Wilkinson, p. 143. An Indian oven was 
washed out there, on the Susquehanna. — Wilkinson, p. 220 

/ 1 1 Onoquaga was on both sides of the Susquehanna^ eight miles 

below Conihunto^ and near the present Onoquaga. It was 
destroyed in 1779. — Sullivan, p. 23. A deposit of brass kettles was 
found at Oquaga. — Wilkinson, p. 155-56. At Oquaga, now 
Windsor, are old apple-trees and earthworks. — French, p. 180. 
Valuable trinkets and human bones were plowed up under the 
apple-trees. The remains of a recent fort were seen by. the first 
settlers. — Child. Directory, 1872-73 

12 W. L. Hildburgh reports camp sites along the Tioughnioga 
river between Chenango Forks and Whitney's Point. 

Cattaraugus county. The principal authorities to be cited on 
Cattaraugus are A. T. Cheney^ whose interesting account and plans 
appeared in the regents report for 1859, Dr Frederick Larkin, who 
published Ancient man in America, in 1880, and Mr Marcus Sackett, 
who described some works in an address before the Chautauqua 
historical society in September 1888. He has sent later notes to 
the writer. 

I A work on a high ridge on the south side of Cattaraugus creek, 
five miles from Lake Erie and a quarter of a mile below Big Indian 
creek. The bluff is parallel with the first creek, pointing up stream. 
The sides are high and abrupt, except at one place on the north 
side, along this a wall was built for 15 or 18 rods, completely 
closing the gap. At the northwest end the wall bends to the west. 
The ridge is very narrow there. Fig. 84 is from a sketch by Mr 



32 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Sackett, showing the relative position of this and the next earth- 
work. 

2 A work between a small stream and the Cattaraugus occupied 
the top of a high and steep bluff on the reservation in the extreme 
northwest part of the county. A wall, 24 rods long, crossed this. 
Early relics were found. — Cheney, p. 39, pi. 2, no. i. Mr Sackett 
gave farther particulars. The small stream was Big Indian creek. 
Streams entered Cattaraugus creek between the two sites. The 
area was nearly three acres, and there was a sunken path to the 
streams. Some excavators found iron axes and human bones in 
1838. Fig. 15 is Mr Cheney's plan on a scale of 500 feet to the 
inch. The writer visited the work at Big Indian creek in September 
1899, with Dr R. M. Evarts of Silver Creek, to whose aid in in- 
vestigation along Cattaraugus creek, thanks are due. In the deep 
covered way a flint scraper and a grooved stone were found. There 
was little pottery and perhaps no long occupation. The wall of 
about 160 feet runs directly across the ridge, and has a gate at 
the east. In places it still has a hight of five or six feet from the 
bottom of the ditch. 

3 A large earthwork several miles farther up, may be that at 
Point Peter. — Cheney, p. 40. On the west side of the stream Point 
Peter reaches Cattaraugus creek in an abrupt bluff, on top of which 
is a half circular work, the open side being on the high cliffs above 
the creek. This work of three or four acres is on a level plateau, 
back of the narrow point. This is near Gowanda, and in Persia, 
where there are relics for miles around. Some pits are on John S. 
Ackerly's farm. — Adams, p. 20, 270 

4 A burial mound in Dayton, 120 feet around and 10 feet high, 
was explored in 1889 by H. L. Reynolds, but the exact spot was 
not given. 

5 " In the towns of Leon and Conewango a number of burial 
mounds have been explored. On either side of Conewango valley 
a chain of fortifications may be traced for more than 20 miles, inter- 
spersed with numerous mausoleums." — Larkin, p. 4. He gives a 
figure and description from Cheney. This interesting valley should 
have fuller exploration. The mound described was on a hill above 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



33 



the valley. The in.'terior mound approached an ellipse being 6i 
by 65 feet, with an altitude of 10 feet above the lower mound^ which 
was three feet high. Eight sitting skeletons formed a circle within, 
and there were fine relics. The fields around showed ancient culti- 
vation. — Cheney, p. 40^ pi. 3. This plan is given in fig. 8, on a 
scale of 500 feet to the inch. 

6 In the town of Napoli, half a mile west of the Narrows, there 
is a mound 120 feet in circumference, on a high hill, 600 feet above 
the Conewango. — Larkin, p. 16-17. On the west side a stream 
flows to the Allegheny. 

7 Mr Cheney reported two rectangular excavations on lot 49, 
Leon, now considered natural^ but there were rehcs, hearths, and 
traces of ancient cultivation. — Cheney, p. 40 

8 In Randolph village, west of the Conewango and partly in- 
closed by it, was a *bank across the level terrace, 60 rods long. 
Over 30 caches were formerly seen. — Cheney, p. 41, pi. 4. Cheney's 
plan is given in fig. 18^ on a scale of 1400 feet to one inch and he 
also mentions a mound. Dr Larkin adds notes of interest, it being 
his home. Blocks of mica and stone hearths were found, and 
thousands of relics occurred within a mile around. — Larkin, p. 10 

9 A nearly circular work^ a mile east of this group, is about 1000 
feet around and has four gateways each 12 feet wide. There are 
hearths and caches. It is included in the last plan. — Cheney, p. 841. 
The work is near the home of J. E. Weeden, and has an area of 
three acres. — Larkin, p. 10 

10 A circular work on Elm creek, near East Randolph, is 287 
feet wide with many caches. — Cheney, p. 40, pi. 2, no. 2. This plan 
appears in fig. 10, on a scale of 250 feet to one inch. Larkin says 
that hundreds of relics have been found. Mr Reynolds thought 
this a work of one acre, on J. N. Metcalf s land. 

1 1 Two miles from the Allegheny up Cold Spring creek were two 
sepulchral mounds about 10 feet high. — Larkin, p. 27 

12 A mound in Cold Spring 500 feet west of the Allegheny river 
was 20 feet high and 200 feet around. " Cart-loads " of bones were 
taken from it with fine copper and stone articles. — Larkin, p. 22 



34 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



13 A circular work on the south side of Allegheny river in Buck- 
tooth township (now Red House) is on a steep hill above Red 
House creek. It is not quite circular and is 1060 feet in circum- 
ference. — Cheney, p. 42, pi. 5. His plan appears in fig. 16 on a scale 
of 260 feet to one inch. Larkin adds a little. 

14 Several miles from this was a burial mound on the north side 
of the Allegheny, which was 10 feet high. — Cheney, p. 42 

15 Several miles below this was a circular work on the east bank 
of the Allegheny^ 300 feet in diameter which seemed recent. Relics 
are found all along the river. Several other works are reported to 
exist at some distance from it. — Cheney, p. 42 

16 Genesinguhta now Old Town was a Seneca village of the last 
century on the Allegheny in Elko. — Adams, p. 41 

17 Tunesassa an Indian village at the mouth of Cold Spring 
creek. , 

18 There was a council house at Horse shoe bend on the Alle- 
gheny, in Great Valley, and two miles above was Killbuck a de- 
serted village. — Adams, p. 690 

19 In CarroUton nearly opposite the village of Limestone is a 
circular work about 1000 feet around, in the valley of the Tunaeng- 
want. A large gateway, with breastworks led toward a stream on 
the north. Large quantities of bones w^ere found, with hearths 
and caches. — Larkin, p. 29-30, fig. 8. His plan appears in fig. 22. 
French describes a work on the flats, in the form of a figure 8, 
which may be the same. Larkin adds, " The valley of the Tunaeng- 
want, together with that of Great Valley, Wright's creek and in 
fact nearly every stream that is bordered by fertile lands, were once 
occupied by the mound builders. Vestiges of ancient works are 
numerous, such as military fortifications, sepulchral mounds, flint 
arrowheads, mica and copper relics. As we pass up the Allegheny, 
from its junction with Tunaengwant, we find the faded remains of 
the ancient people at every step." — Larkin, p. 31 

20 At Olean the canal passed through a burial mound, 40 feet 
wide by 60 feet long and 10 feet high. — Larkin, p. 31. There was a 
group of small mounds at the confluence of Olean creek and Alle- 
gheny river. — Macaidey, 2:113 



ABORJGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



35 



21 In Hinsdale, about five miles north of Olean, and near the 
west side o£ the creek was a circular fort of about three acres. 
Around it were abundant relics. — Larkin, p. 31. This was on 
Peake's and Gould's land. 

22 Frank C. Dawley reports a fort at the Jackson school- 
house, two miles northwest of Versailles, and another half way, at 
the mouth of Castile creek. All those along Cattaraugus creek 
are on high points, formed by tributaries of that stream. All have 
a single and nearly straight bank, except that at the schoolhouse in 
which there is an opening in the bank. Under the guidance of 
Dr R. M. Evarts the writer examined the double-walled fort near 
the Jackson schoolhouse. The walls are about 20 feet apart and 
12 rods long. The outside or eastern ditch is deep, and the in- 
terior one broad and shallower. The outside wall is now five or 
six feet high from the bottom of the outer ditch, and about four 
feet above the inner one. The gate is at the northeast end. An- 
other fort is at the mouth of Castile creek, a mile nearer Versailles. 

23 The Indians report four forts between Versailles and Gowanda, 
within as many miles. 

24 On N. E. G. Cowan's land, near Rutledge, was a mound 6 
feet high and 20 feet in diameter, in which were stone relics and 
ashes. Nine skeletons sat in a circle, back to back. — U. S. bur. of 
eth. 1890-91, p. 508. 

Cayuga county. The northern part of the county has few sites, 
the Cayugas living south of Seneca river and mostly between 
Cayuga and Owasco lakes, except a few villages in Seneca county 
where they may have had earlier homes. Squier mentioned a fort 
in Brutus, which was really near Jamesville, Onondaga county. In 
the Jesuit relations Cayuga was called Onoien in 1654. The three 
great villages of 1668 were Cayuga at the lake, or St Joseph, 
Thiohero or St Stephen, four French leagues from there; and 
Onontare or St Rene, two leagues below on the river. There are 
other notices in the Relations. In 1677 Greenhalgh said that the 
Cayugas had three open towns, a mile apart and two or three miles 
from Lake Tichero. In 1763 Sir William Johnson reported one 
large village at Cayuga lake, and several thence to the Susquehanna. 



36 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



1 Many arrowheads and other articles are found around Spring 
lake, in Conquest. They would naturally occur along the trails 
leading to Lake Ontario. Some small burial mounds were a mile 
south of this village, and there were also fireplaces and shells 
toward the river. — Hinsdale 

2 There were camps on Rowland island, in the Seneca river, 
and many relics have been found. 

3 J. V. H. Clark says that the Onondagas " had also cleared off 
what is called the salt fields, in the town of Cato, and had a small 
settlement there." — Clark, 2 :^2S 

4 On the west shore of Cross lake just north of the Seneca river 
there is an early site with rude relics. ' 

5 A burial place was found at Blufif point east of the Seneca river 
and near Fox Ridge in 1894. The relics were modern. Tlie point 
is about 20 rods north of the Central Hudson railroad tracks, a 
marsh separating them, and is parallel with the east bank of Seneca 
river. It contains about 27 acres of gravelly soil." The skeletons 
were found at the extreme south point. This was probably the 
burial place of Onontare. 

6 Squier described a small work six miles northwest of Auburn 
and three miles from Throopsville in the town of Mentz, and by 
the road to Port Byron. Fig. 11 represents the plan on a scale 
of 200 feet to the inch. The work is built upon the crest of a 
narrow ridge, which extends nearly north and south, and along 
which the main road passes." The walls w^ere then two or three 
feet high. Some comparatively recent relics had been found, 
as well as skeletons within and without the w^alls.. There was one 
gate. He thought this might be a work mentioned by Macauley 
at Montezuma, which is four miles northwest and in the next town. 
That work has not been found. 

7 There is a site of two acres in lot 28, Sennett, two miles north- 
east of Auburn, with relics of earthenware and stone. 

8 The work at Fort Hill, Auburn, has been figured by Squier 
and Schoolcraft, of which a small part remains in the cemetery in 
front of the Logan monument. Fig. i gives Squier's plan which 
differs slightly from the other. The wall was not continuous and 



ABORIGINAL 



OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



37 



may never have been^ so. This plan is 200 feet to the inch. James 
H. Bostwick furnished Schoolcraft's plan which will be found in his 
Iroquois report. The north and south axis from the outside base 
of the bank was 410 feet, and the east and west 416. He made 
five openings, and Mr Squier eight, two of which are narrow. The 
latter said of these, It has been conjectured by some that the walls 
here have been washed away, but it is clear that there was slight 
necessity for defenses at this point, and that none ever existed 
beyond what may be traced." The descent was abrupt on all sides^ 
and there were caches. The bank was two or three feet high in 
1850, with a corresponding ditch. — Squier, p. 49, pi. 5, no. i 

9 Macauley described another fort in Auburn, two miles north- 
east of this, containing two acres, with a bank, ditch and gateway. 
It was on North street, near the present railroad crossing. When 
the land was cleared about 1790, the bank was 7 feet high, and 
the ditch 10 feet wide. It was 350 paces in circumference, and had 
a gate to the northeast. Hammer-stones, earthenware and trian- 
gular flint arrowheads were found. Not far of¥ was a mound filled 
with skeletons, probably a natural elevation. DeWitt Clinton more 
correctly said it was a mile north of the last, but he may have 
overestimated the area. He also stated that it had a north gate, the 
entrance of which must have been from the west on account of 
the overlapping of the wall. 

10 There is a cemetery, etc. with modern relics on John Morse's 
land three miles north of Cayuga. It is covered by an orchard. 

1 1 North Cayuga, St Stephen's or Thiohero, was two miles north 
of Cayuga village, on lot 24, Aurelius. The site occupies three or 
four acres east of the canal and north of the highway. Jesuit rings 
and European articles are found. In an early cache near by was 
found a plate of mica and other curious articles. This and most of 
the following sites were reported by W. W. Adams of Maple- 
ton. Gen. J. S. Clark said that Choharo was the Tichero 
(Thiohero) or St Stephen's of the Jesuit relations, said to signify the 
place of rushes, at the foot of Cayuga lake on the east side, 
at the exact point where the bridge of the middle turnpike left 
the east shore. The trail across the marsh followed the north bank 



38 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



of an ancient channel of the Seneca river. . . The salt springs 
mentioned by Father Raffeix in 1672 were on the west side of the 
marsh about half a mile north of the N. Y. C. railroad bridge." 

12 In a burial place on Frontenac island, Cayuga lake, skeletons 
were found on the rock two feet under ground. 

13 Stone reHcs alone are found on a site of 10 acres on Yawger's 
point, north of Union Springs, lot 92, Springport. Lodge sites 
appear over the whole field. 

14 An early site on lot 85, on the same point, occupies two or 
three acres. The graves occupy 40 or 50 feet, each having from 
one to 20 skeletons. Long shell beads are found but nothing 
European. 

15 J. W. Kales found bones of men, women and children in 
a pit a mile north of Union Springs and near the lake. There were 
no relics. — Smithsonian report 1881. Gen. Clark also mentions 
" Gewauga, a small hamlet on the present site of Union Springs 
, . .on the east side of Cayuga lake." 

16 There are several early sites on Farley's point, south of Union 
Springs, and on lot 7, Springport. Mr Adams thought part of. 
Cayuga Castle was on this point but found only early relics. The 
site comprises 8 or 10 acres and the graves occupy two or three 
rods. The relics are of stone and shell wnth clay and stone pipes 
and pottery. 

17 Fig. 12 is a stockade in Ledyard, four miles southeast of 
Union Springs. It is still mostly undisturbed and was described 
by Mr Squier, whose plan is used on a scale of 400 feet to the inch. 
It seems recent and is on a point between two deep ravines. A 
somewhat pyriform space is inclosed at the end of the point which 
is about 300 feet in diameter. The curving stockade takes in about 
half of the outline; the holes are eight inches in diameter. There 
are caches within. From the extreme point of the plateau the 
" Indian path " follows a narrow spur to the water. The banks 
of the streams are 175 feet high. — Squier, p. 88, pi. 13. Morgan 
says that Gayagaanha, the principal village^ was on Salmon creek, 
three miles south of Union Springs, one and one half miles from 
the lake. — Morgan, p. 423. It should read Great Gully brook. In 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



39 



Sullivan's expedition Gen. J. S. Clark speaks of " Cayuga Castle, 
an Indian town containing 15 very large houses of squared logs, 
on the south line of Springport ... on the north bank of 
Great Gully brook, and from one to two miles from the lake." 

18 A site on lot 114 Ledyard is supposed to be Upper Cayuga. 
There are fireplaces and a few graves with European reHcs and 
many copper fish hooks. Gen. Clark speaks of " Upper Cayuga, 
an Indian town of 14 very large houses, near the north line of 
Ledyard ... on the south bank of Great Gully brook and 
as appears on the map between one and two miles from the lake." 
The distance is greater. 

19 East Cayuga, or Old Town, was a quarter of a mile west 
of Mapleton, on lot 95, Fleming. Area, 10 or 12 acres east of the 
creek. The relics are recent. Clark notes that " East Cayuga, or 
Old Town, contained 13 houses, in the southeast corner of the town 
of Springport as indicated on the map from three to four miles from 
the lake. A site in the southwest corner of Fleming was a site of 
this town at about this time," which was 1779. 

20 Cemetery of half an acre on lot 89, west of Fleming village. 
Modern relics. 

21 Site of 10 to 15 acres at Scipioville, with recent relics. Nearly 
level ground. There was a burial place. 

22 Clark says that " Chonondote was an Indian town of 14 
houses on the site of the present Aurora; according to George 
Grant's journal it contained 1500 peach trees." 

23 Stockade found on Isaac Carpenter's farm near the north line 
of lot 67, Ledyard, in 1887. Area two acres with potsherds, pipes, 
celts and broken bones and skeletons. It is a level point between 
two ravines; the general form is given in fig. 2. There was a 
simple stockade 100 feet long from Payne's creek on one side to 
a small stream on the other. 

24 Macauley mentioned a similar work near Aurora. It was 
" two miles from the village, in a southwesterly (southeasterly) 
direction, the area triangular^ containing two acres. Two of its 
sides were defended by precipitous banks, the third by an em- 
bankment and ditch. Fragments of earthen vessels and the bones 



40 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



of animals had been found there enveloped in ashes." It is on 
R. Stewart's farm, lot 68, Ledyard, and also on Payne's creek. Part 
of the ditch remains. There are stone relics and earthenware but 
no graves appear on either of these two sites. 

25 A cemetery of half an acre is two miles south of Ledyard post- 
ofifice, on lot 83. The village site is a quarter of a mile farther 
south. Earthenware occurs. 

26 A cemetery in P. Stafford's woods, west of the road and half 
a mile north of Kings Ferry. Nothing was found with the skele- 
tons^ which were in rows. 

27 The Sterner site is a mile south of Genoa, occupying one or 
two acres on both sides of Salmon creek. It is on lot 17, with 
recent relics and occupied with graves. 

28 A village site is on the west side of Big Salmon creek, lot 74, 
Venice, two miles south of Venice Center. The cemetery is 
east of the creek, on a small knoll one eighth of an acre in extent. 
Shell gorgets and European articles are found there. The village 
is on level land on the other side and farther south. 

29 The Indian fields commence on the Hull farm, lot 88, ScipTo, 
and extend across V enice five miles into Genoa, being about a mile 
wide on the west side of the creek, while Myers is the only place 
of importance on the east. Recent relics are found on almost every 
farm, and in early days large quantities of brass were taken from 
them. 

30 A stockade has been reported on a site of 10 or 12 acres east 
of Alyers station, but not definitely. The village was south of the 
creek, on lot 97, Venice. The cemetery is east of the railroad on 
a sandy knoll. Early and recent relics. French mentions the fort 
east of the creek. 

31 A site of two or three acres in Locke, half or three fourths 
of a mile west of Milan, is usually reported as a stockade, but Mr 
Adams in his hasty examination found no traces of this. It em- 
braces a space in the woods on a point between two streams. Such 
positions were rarely without defense. Earthenware is found. — 
Child, Directo7'y, 1867-68, says that " Traces of an Indian burial 
ground are still visible, covering abput two acres of ground between 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



41 



two deep gulfs, half a mile west of Milan. The graves are dis- 
tributed in rows east and west." 

32 Macauley says, " On the east side of the Seneca river near 
Montezuma, there are still to be seen the ruins of a small fort. A 
small mound occurs not far from the fort; it is artificial." 

33 There is a site on lot 15 Scipio, which yields no European 
articles. It embraces two acres south of the creek. The cemetery 
is slightly raised. 

34 Graves on the hillside about a mile west of Venice Center. 

35 Mr Hildburgh reports the following. Recent graves two and 
a half miles north of Genoa.^ 

36 Obliterated earthwork in the town of Niles, a Httle north of 
the Moravia line and a mile east of Owasco lake, on M. B. Duryee's 
farm. 

37 Camp on the flats at the south end of Owasco lake. 

38 In October 1899 an early cemetery was opened a little west 
of Throopsville station. 

Chautauqua county. Most of the sites reported in Chautauqua 
county are east of a meridian line through Chautauqua lake. Most 
of them may be referred to the Eries of an early day or to some 
kindred people^ but there are traces of those much farther advanced 
in the arts. Some work was done by H. L. Reynolds in 1889, 
which appears in the report of the U. S. bureau of ethnology, 
1890-91. The southwest part of the county might be expected to re- 
pay examination, for all this region is a border land between the Iro- 
quoian family and the earlier race a little farther south, for con- 
venience termed mound builders. All the plans given are from 
Mr Cheney's brief but interesting report published by the regents 
many years ago. It is to be regretted that he gave so little in- 
formation on the relics occurring there, but these seem to have 
interested him little. He chose rather the more impressive mounds 
and forts. 

Artificial roadways were reported by Dr H. C. Taylor, in his 
History of Portland. They w^ere near Brocton, but prove to be 
natural beds of gravel as is the case elsewhere. Grooved axes are 
sometimes found. Arrowheads, gouges, etc. often occur along or 



42 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



near Chautauqua lake. James Sherrard mentions fragments of pot- 
tery in Stockton, and a cache in Sheridan of " as much as two 
bushels of flint spalls or chips, and a number of arrow and spear- 
heads." Many fine and rare relics are found in various places. 

Rev. Samuel Kirkland said of the north part of this county, On 
the south side of Lake Erie are a series of old fortifications, from 
Cattaraugus creek to the Pennsylvania line, a distance of 50 miles. 
Some are from two to four miles apart, others half a mile only. 
Some contain five acres. The walls or breastworks are of earth, 
and are generally on ground where there are appearances of creeks 
having flowed into the lake." Little attention has been given to 
these works near the lake. 

The Jesuit relations of 1648 says, " This lake named Erie was 
formerly inhabited on its southern coast by certain peoples whom 
we call the nation of the Cat, who have been obliged to withdraw 
inland in order to get away from their enemies who are more toward 
the west. These people of the Cat have a number of fixed villages, 
for they cultivate the ground and are of the same language as 
our Hurons." They knew little of Europeans and their downfall 
came in 1654-55. 

1 There were remains of extensive works in Westfield. — Young, 
p. 18. There was a bank in the village of Westfield, half a mile 
south of West Main street, on Hugh Neil's land. — Reynolds, p. 512 

2 There were circular works and old roadways in Portland. — 
Young, p. 18. An elliptic work was on the west bank of Fay's 
creek Portland, on the central part of lot 38, T. 5. The Erie railroad 
runs through the north part of the fort and clay and stone pipes 
have been found there. — Reynolds, p. 512 

3 A bank in Portland opposite the home of John L. Coon. — 
Reynolds, p. 512 

4 Two circular works not connected with the Fredonia series 
were noted on the first terrace of Lake Erie. — Cheney, p. 47. Loca- 
tion not specified but presumably near Fredonia. 

5 A work near the east line of Fredonia was on an abrupt emi- 
nence of 30 feet and was 190 feet long. It intersected the steep 
banks of the creeks on either side. The wall was semicircular. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



43 



The trace of a very large pit occurs in front of the embankment. 
The usual Indian relics, such as ancient pottery, etc. have been 
observed here." — Cheney, p. 46. Larkin says of the pit, ''A great 
amount of arrowheads and spearheads, some of which were com- 
posed of copper, together with a quantity of charred corn, were 
found in the pit. Adjacent to this intrenchment fragments of 
human bones have been disclosed in such an advanced stage of 
decay that they whitened the soil." — Larkin, p. 37. This was on 
Dr A. P. Phillips's land a mile east of Fredonia and on the bank of 
Canadaway creek in Pomfret. Reynolds makes it circular, with an 
area of one acre. — Reynolds, p. 511 

6 A circular bank on, the farm of Joel Button in the same town, 
two miles east of Fredonia on the Forestville road, is on both 
sides of a stream. It has yielded pottery, pestles and celts. — Rey- 
nolds, p. 511. Area 3 acres. Flat land. 

7 A mound in the village of Fredonia was 7 feet high. Skeletons 
and stone articles have been found. — Reynolds, p. 511 

8 A circular work in the south part of Sheridan was on high 
ground and near a small stream. The diameter was 495 feet, and 
there were once several gateways. Pottery is found. — Cheney, p. 46 

9 A mound in Fredonia, 30 feet high and 90 paces around, might 
be artificial, but Mr Reynolds thought it natural. It is known as 
the Indian mound. — U. S. bur. of eth. p. 511 

10 There was a large circular work near the Erie railroad cross- 
ing on the road from Fredonia to Forestville. In and around this 
were stone relics and many pits, in pairs. In a large grave many 
human skeletons of all ages were mingled. — Young, p. 18. Mir 
Cheney said this work was the largest he saw, having a diameter of 
860 feet and inclosing 13^ acres. The road passes through it 
nearly east and vv^est. There were two pits of unequal size without 
the wall. Pottery and entire skulls occurred. This work is the 
last among the series of ancient fortifications which once extended 
along the Cassadaga and Canadaway creeks, and thence upon 
the hills bordering upon the waters of Lake Erie." Many had 
been obliterated. — Cheney, p. 47, pi. 11. This work is on lot 35, 



44 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



range ii, and Mr Cheney's plan is given in fig. 6, on a scale of 500 
feet to the inch. 

11 Mr Reynolds reported a circular work on J. G. Gould's farm, 
3 miles from Forestville on the Dunkirk road. It occupied about 
3 acres on a bluff above Walnut creek, and there were 40 or 50 
pits on the opposite side of the road. — U. S. bur. of eth. p. 511. 
Mr Sherrard also referred to walls and ditches near that farm. 
" These fortifications are somewhat numerous and extensive, reach- 
ing over into the town of Pomfret, where a hill known as Fort hill 
gives unequivocal testimony of the work of man." 

12 i\Ir Reynolds reported a bone pit in front of Mr Gould's 
house in Sheridan. In this ossuary were human bones of persons 
of all ages and without arrangement. In a grave near this were 
5 skeletons in a circle, with the feet outward. — U. S. bur. of eth. 
p. 511 

13 A circular mound, 30 feet in diameter and 7 feet high, is 40 
rods from the east shore of Cassadaga lake. Decayed skeletons 
were removed in 1822. Many hearths were near the mound, w^hich 
had an average breadth of 30 feet. The large stones showed intense 
heat. There were nun:i£rous caches, 4 feet broad and 2 feet deep. — 
Cheney, p. 46 

14 Not far off was a line of fortifications across a peninsula on 
the south shore, inclosing a large area. He described what he 
thought a gravel road. The numerous relics were of fine pottery, 
celts and iron implements. — Cheney, p. 46, pi. 10. 'Mr Cheney's 
plan of these two sites is given in fig. 20, on a scale of 500 feet 
to the inch. 

15 Dr Larkin described a curious oblong mound on a point in 
the lower lake. It was on the southwest side, and had a long 
axis of 7 and a short axis of 5 rods. It was probably natural, but 
had abundant relics. On the edge of the plateau, 12 rods from 
this, was a bank 20 rods long, and in the rear of it another running 
from shore to shore. 

16 A mound on the west shore of Chautauqua lake, on John F. 
Morton's land, is two miles above Lakeland. Several fireplaces 
and piles of flint \were near. — Reynolds 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



45 



17 A trench opened in Steadman in 1867 was full of human bones, 
but was without other relics. It was on the line of the town of 
Harmony. There were over 20 skeletons arranged in rows. — 
Young, p. 19 

18 Two mounds were south of Fair point and west of Chautauqua 
lake. One was on Whitney's and the other on Billings's land. One 
was 4 feet high by 25 feet in diameter, and contained flat stones, 
human bones, flint knives, clay and stone pipes. The other was 
31 by 38 feet in diameter. Ashes and a gorget were found in it. — 
U. S. bur. of eth. p. 505 

19 Not far from the mounds at the Narrows east of the lake was 
an old cemetery at Dewittville. Dr Larkin reported vast quanti- 
ties of relics in the vicinity and a cache of arrowheads. — Larkin, 

p. 58 

20 On Bemus point are old and recent sites. Some were found 
by the writer at the end of the point. 

21 An obliterated bank was on the lowland nearly half a mile 
back of Long point, tw^o miles above Bemus point. — Reynolds, 
p. 506 

22 At Griffith's point in Ellery, east of Chautauqua lake, are two 
mounds. — Young, p. 20. Mr Cheney placed them near the Nar- 
rows and 100 rods from the shore, directly in the rear of the point. 
They were 5 rods apart, 66 feet in diameter and 6 feet high. Fig. 
21 is his plan reduced to 1000 feet to the inch. — Cheney, p. 47, pi. 12. 
They were afterward examined and reported as 40 feet in diameter. 
Three human skeletons were found, also one of a wolf, besides 
copper articles and mica. Still later Mr Reynolds described them 
as near Bemus point. One was 6 feet high and 39 feet in diameter. 
This contained copper articles and mica. The other was 5 feet 
high and 65 feet across. There were traces of an earthwork back 
of the point. — U. S. bur. of eth. p. 505-6 

23 There was a circular work one and a half miles south of Sin- 
clairville on lot 46, Gerry, with an area of 3 acres. It yielded skele- 
tons and rude stone implements. A large cemetery was 130 rods 
northeast of this, out of which 50 skeletons were taken in 1825 and 
25 about 30 years later. They were in a sitting posture, the alternate 



46 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



rows facing each other. — Young, p. 19. This was on B. F. Denni- 
son's farm, on the Jamestown road near Sinclairville, — U. S. bur. 
of eth. p. 510. There was also a nearly circular work 60 rods 
north of this and on William Scott's land. It had a depression in 
the center and a gate at the north. It is on lots 30 and 38. — U. S. 
bur. of eth. p. 510. There are cinder heaps on the farm of John F. 
Phelps, a mile south of Sinclairville. 

24 There were two breastworks on the north and south bounda- 
ries of Sinclair^dlle, with a large circular work between them. The 
gate was on the south side. Six or seven acres were inclosed in 
the heart of the village. On a high bluff above J\Iill creek on the 
west was a circular work with deep excavations. — Young, p. 19-20. 
A slightly curved bank, without gateways and 100 rods long, crosses 
Sinclairville from bluff to bluff, precipices defending the other sides. 
The area is nearly square. — Cheney, p. 45, pi. 9. Islr Cheney's plan 
is given in fig. 3, on a scale of 1000 feet to the inch. 

25 There are two works on the farm of John Almy, South Stock- 
ton, a mile across the Cassadaga valley and nearly 60 rods from 
the dividing lines of Gerry and Ellery. The larger and southeast- 
ern one is in the shape of the letter D, the straight line fronting 
the eastern edge of the bluff. A northwest gateway connects with 
a ravine, across which is the gate of the smaller, opposite and 
circular work about 6 rods away. The latter incloses half an acre. — 
Larkin, p. 50, fig. 11. Dr Larkin's plan appears in fig. 17. There 
was a circular work 60 rods south of this, on the farm of S. M. 
Tower. It was a true circle, facing the south and divided in 
the center by a straight line." This was on a plain on the west 
side of the Cassadaga valley. From the western side of the fort 
a ditch, 20 rods long, reached a stream at a hight sufficient to 
carry the water within the walls, inside of which were hearths, 
caches, pottery and arrowheads. — Larkin, p. 53. Mr Reynolds re- 
ports these rather differently. The one on the Tower farm is 80 
rods south of the others, and is a circle inclosing two and a half 
acres. The others are in South Stockton, 4 miles southwest of 
Sinclairville, and both are called circular works. The smaller fort 
has a north and south axis of 132 feet, and an east and west axis of 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



47 



1 129 feet. A thousand feet should be taken from this. The other 
is 163 feet away and has a north and south axis of 184 feet, the east 
and west being 151 feet. They are west of the vahey. — U. S. bur. 
of eth. p. 510 

26 An elHptic work is on a plateau 150 feet above Cassadaga creek 
and on the north side of a small stream. The bank is 495 feet 
around, with a gateway 10 feet wide. A trail leads to the stream 
and in the center of the work is a large and deep pit. — Cheney, p. 44, 
pi. 8, fig. I. Mr Cheney's plan appears in fig. 9, on a scale of 250 
feet to the inch. 

27 Another work is on high land 160 rods from Cassadaga creek, 
with a small stream on the southern side. Many skeletons within 
had horizontal burial. Within and without were vast quantities of 
implements and large caches were near. From the gate in the 
northeast part a trail led to a cemetery 50 rods away. Here were 
three large rectangular graves with from 30 to 60 skeletons in a 
sitting posture. — Cheney, p. 45, pi. 8, fig. 2. Mr Cheney's plan is 
given in fig. 4, on a scale of 500 feet to the inch. 

28 In " the village of Bucklin's corners was an ancient cemetery 
where a great number of human skeletons have been exhumed." — 
Larkin, p. 50. Bucklin's corners, or Gerry center, is now in the 
village of Vermont. Three quarters of a mile south of this was an 
elliptic work of 7 acres, on high ground overlooking the Cassadaga 
valley. Much of this was visible in 1880 according to Dr Larkin. 

29 Two miles southeast of Sinclairville was a circular work. — 
Young, p. 19 

30 An oval work was 3 miles south of Sinclairville, on Shepard- 
son's farm. — Reynolds 

31 Two semicircular works on Clear creek were reported by Mr 
Thatcher. They were 3 miles west of Ellington and a mile above 
no. 34. They were on bluffs and each had an area of one and one 
half acres. One was double-walled, the walls turning out at the 
gateway, in front of which was a small mound. — U. S. bur. of eth. 
p. 509 

32 Two works on opposite sides of Clear creek are 56 rods apart. 
One on a high peninsula is a parallelogram with rounded 



48 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



angles^ having indications of bastions or towers on them. The gate 
was at the south and the area was less than two acres. The other is 
circular and about 800 feet around. The relics are of an early type. 
They are one and one half miles farther up the valley than the next. 
— Cheney, p. 44 

33 An angular work is on a precipitous hill 125 feet high. It is 
in the form of a parallelogram^ 290 by 627 feet. In the center of 
the south wall is a wide gateway, with elevated mounds upon each 
side to guard the entrance. . . Along the buttress, extending 
upon the northern side of the hill^ were vast masses of stones," ap- 
parently for defense. Great quantities of relics have been found. — 
Cheney, p. 43, pi. 7. Dr Larkin places this a quarter of a mile from 
Ellington village, but Mr Reynolds assigns it to the Boyd farm, two 
miles above Ellington. There are stone relics. — U. S. bur. of eth. 
p. 508. Mr Cheney's plan appears in fig. 19, on a scale of 250 feet 
to the inch. 

34 Two circular works 52 rods apart, are one and one half miles 
above Ellington. Each is about 650 feet around, and the ditch 
seemed inside. — Cheney, p. 43. Two circular works were on the 
north side of Clear creek two miles above Ellington, on F. Law^- 
rence's farm. One was 190 feet in diameter. Opposite these, on 
the south side of the creek, was the large parallelogram work last 
described, two miles above Ellington. Mr Reynolds gave a 
plan of one of these circular works, wdiich is essentially reproduced 
in fig. 90. Another fort was almost beside it. — U. S. bur. of eth, 
p. 508, fig. 334 

35 The Old fort " is an elliptic work in Elhngton on the north 
bank of Clear creek, on a hill, the top of which it surrounds. 
The area is 175 by 320 feet and the two gateways, each 6 feet wide, 
are on the north and southeast sides. — Cheney, p. 43, pi. 6, fig. 2. 
Mr Cheney's plan appears in fig. 5, on a scale of 250 feet to the 
inch. It is on Sect's farm, just north of the village of Ellington. 
Mr Reynolds saw but one gateway and gives a plan. It contains 3 
acres. Remeasurement makes it 170 by 270 feet. A handcuff and 
part of an iron kettle have been found. He also reported a circular 
work of two acres in the village. This was south of the last, and on 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



49 



S. G. Baldwin's bottom lands east of Clear creek. — U. S. bur. of eth. 
P- 507 

36 An elliptic work in Ellington, on Clear creek, is 168 by 218 
feet. There is no trench and the wall is wide. A stone mound, 4 
feet wide and 5 feet high, is 70 rods away and toward the creek. — 
Cheney, p. 42, pi. 6, fig. i. This plan appears in fig. 13 on a scale 
of 250 feet to one inch. It is on Charles Gapleson's land, south side 
of Clear creek and 2 miles east of Ellington. — U. S. bur, of eth. 
p. 508 

37 Two bone mounds were in EUicott. One was near Dexter- 
ville and the other on Tififany's farm. Near the latter were fortifica- 
tions. — Young 

38 There were two mounds on Albert Tiffany's farm on the line 
of the Holland purchase, one and one half miles east of Jamestown 
on the Ellington road. A gorget was found in one. — U. S. bur. of 
eth. p. 505 

39 There was a semicircular bank near Falconer's, on the James- 
town and Ellington road. It w^as near a stream and was 540 feet 
long. — U. S. bur. of eth. p. 505 

40 An artificial mound containing large French knives and other 
relics, was opened near Jamestown a few years since. 

41 Skeletons were found under a large stump in Frewsburg. 

42 Large numbers of human bones have been found near Fen- 
tonville. — Larkin, p. 60 

43 While digging a cellar on the lake front at Chautauqua, Sep. 
27, 1898, the workmen exhumed 12 skulls and other bones. 

44 Marcus Sackett reports a half circular fort near Hanover 
Center, through which the highway passes. Obliterated. A few 
arrowheads are still found. 

Chemung county. This county seems to have been occupied 
about the time of the discovery by a nation of the Iroquois family 
at war with the Five Nations. They are thought to have been the 
people whose aid Champlain expected in his attack on the Iroquois 
fort in 161 5. Gen. J. S. Clark has no doubt that they were those 
mentioned in the description of Champlain's map as " Carantouanis 
a nation to the south of the Antouhonorons in a very beautiful and 
rich country where they are strongly lodged, and are friends with 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



all the other nations except the Antouhonorons, from whom they 
are only three days distant." He thinks Spanish hill was their 
stronghold. The Antouhonorons were the Upper Iroquois or per- 
haps more strictly the Senecas. The Dutch had some early knowl- 
edge of these dwellers on the Susquehanna. On the maps of 
1614 and 1616 they appear as the Gachoos or Gachoi, south of the 
Senecas, the common Dutch term for all the Upper Iroquois. The 
Iroquois and their dependents had villages there before the revolu- 
tion. 

1 Runonvea was a village at Big Flats burned in 1779. 

2 Site on the Wsston farm about 3 miles north of Horseheads 
and on the ridges both sides of Catharine creek. Pottery and 
arrowheads. A trail followed the ridge. 

3 Site west of trail and east of the Northern Central railroad a 
quarter of a mile north of Horseheads. Early relics. 

4 Large site on Arnot estate a mile southeast of Horseheads. 
Pestles, celts and arrowheads. Trail and arrowheads on east bank. 
A number of these sites were furnished by Ward E. Bryan of 
Elmira. 

5 On Latta brook road near the end of the ridge and two miles 
south of Horseheads was a site with fine relics and numerous pestles. 

6 A mile southeast of Big Flats and northwest of the mouth of 
Sing Sing creek is a site with pottery, pestles and articles of stone. 

7 Near the last and much like it. The trail ended here and graves 
have been found. 

8 Site of one acre where a bridge from Big Flats crosses the 
river. Flint flakes, pottery and small arrowheads. 

9 Fort Hill, Fort Henderson and Mount Zoar are names for an 
eminence southwest of Elmira and south of the river. A work 
there has been described and figured by several. Thomas Maxwell's 
plan and account are in Schoolcraft's North American Indians. He 
describes it as three miles w^est of Elmira and south of Chemung 
river with a bank 270 feet long, 3 to 4 feet high and 6 to 9 wide on 
top. There was a row^ of holes two feet apart east of the bank, with 
a vacancy of 12 feet in the center for a gateway. A larger post was 
on each side of this, which is a frequent thing. Prof. Horsford re- 
ported it for Mr Squier and his plan is given in fig. 23. There was 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



51 



a bank about 200 feet long, 14 feet broad at the base and 3^ feet 
high. A double line of holes about a foot deep extended along the 
top. There were several parallel furrows inside the bank partially 
crossing the area. It is on a ridge washed on one side by the 
Chemung. — Sqtder, p. 53-54 

10 Kanawlohalla, burned in 1779, Avas in Elmira at the junction of 
Newtown creek with the Chemung. Two other villages have been 
mentioned in Elmira, one near the Rathbun house and one near 
Wisner park. — Towner, p. 24 

11 A small village called Middletown between Newtown and Ka- 
nawlohalla was burned in 1779. — Sullivan, p. ^128 

12 On the Nichols farm opposite the Sullivan monument is a 
considerable site with many relics, but there are fewer aboriginal 
traces south of Elmira than north. 

13 Chemung a town burned in 1779 having 50 or 60 houses. On 
the left or north bank of the Chemung west of the Narrows and 
three miles from the present Chemung village. — Sullivan, p. 127. 
Old Chemung on the same bank half a mile above the present vil- 
lage was also burned. — Sullivan, p. 125 

14 A small and ncAV village on both sides of Baldwin's creek and 
northeast of the battle field was burned in 1779. Another village 
was near this. — Sullivan, p. 127 

15 Newtown on the left bank of the Chemung was five miles 
below Elmira and a mile above the battle field of Aug. 29, 1779. — 
Sullivan, p. 127. The battle was near Lowman's. 

16 A small village near the river on one of its tributaries and two 
miles above the battle field. — Sullivan, p. 127 

17 The remaining Chemung sites were reported by Percy L. 
Lang. A village southwest of Lowman and another one and one 
half miles east on the river. 

18 Camps on both sides of the river at Chemung. 

19 Camps and a village north of the river, near Wynkoop creek. 
Chenango county, i. A horseshoe-shaped gravel bank, four 

miles north of Sherburne and a mile west of Handsome brook with 
a curious extension seems a natural formation, but arrowheads 
occur in the vicinity. — Hatch, p. 74 



52 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



2 West of the river and opposite Slierburne were four or five open 
caches, close together and four to six feet deep and wide. In a field 
north were stone chisels, pestles, axes and arrowheads. — Hatch, p. 
74. This was one and one half miles northwest of the village. 

3 Human bones were also found in digging the canal on the west 
side of the river. — Hatch, p. 75 

4 In the present burial ground on the south boundary of Nor- 
wich were human bones in great abundance, the skeletons buried 
nearly upright, on the farm of C. M. Rouse. Near the residence of 
the late Abel Chandler in Norwich was a mound much like western 
ones. — Randall, p. 13 

5 The Indian fields a mile below the creek bridge at Norwich was 
a favorite Indian residence, and also the plain now occupied by 
Norwich. Large flint arrowheads have been found near that village 
and stone axes on the Unadilla. — Child. Directory, 1869-70. Mr 
Squier quotes from Clinton : " There is also a place at Norwich on 
a high bank of the river called the Castle^ where the Indians lived 
at the period of our settlement of the country, and where some 
vestiges of a fortification appear, but in all probability of much 
more modern date than those at Oxford." — Squier, p. 47. Randall 
says there was a recent work on the east side of the river a mile 
south of Norwich called the Castle, much frequented by the Indians 
when the whites came. There were traces of Indian villages near 
this. — Hist. mag. 1873, p. 13. On the west of the river, he adds, 
opposite this, was a space of a mile from north to south much fre- 
quented and called the Indian fields. 

6 Skeletons were found in digging the Chen^go canal four miles 
north of Oxford^ near the old Gates tavern or Halfway house. — 
Hist. mag. 1873, P- ^3- West side of the river. Along the river are 
found earthenware, drills, arrowheads and flakes. 

7 A semicircular bank and trench in the village of Oxford oc- 
cupied an eminence three or four acres in extent. The river is on 
the west side of this eminence^ which rises abruptly from the flats, 
and the descent to the water is precipitous. The bank v;as the base 
of the half circle and there were narrow openings at the ends for 
gateways. The area was three fourths of an acre. Mr Clinton says 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



53 



it was densely wooded when first known to the whites. The In- 
dians have a tradition that the family of the Antones, which is sup- 
posed to belong to the Tuscarora nation, is the seventh generation 
from the inhabitants of this fort, but of its origin they know noth- 
ing. . . No implements or utensils have been found, only 
some fragments of coarse pottery roughly ornamented." — Squier, p. 
46. S. S. Randall says there were many Indian relics at this 
point and in the fort^ as stone axes, chisels and flint arrowheads. 
The absence of such things is a curious feature of some earthworks. 

8 On the east side of the Chenango four miles south of Oxford 
on Padget's brook, were 25 distinct old embankments adjacent to 
each other. There were also traces of graves near by, lined above 
and below with cobble stones. The upper stratum of these had 
fallen in.- — Hist. mag. 1873, p. 13 

9 In the township of Greene about two miles below the bridge 
and 30 rods from the river, was a circular burial mound which was 
originally 6 feet high and 40 in diameter. It was opened in 1829 
and abundant human bones were found, and much deeper beneath 
them were others which had been burned. It was not an orderly 
burial, and the bones crumbled on being exposed. In one part 
were about 200 yellow and black jasper arrowheads, and 60 more 
in another place. " Also a silver band or ring about two inches in 
diameter, wide but thin and with what appeared to be the remains 
of a reed pipe within it. A number of stone gouges or chisels of 
different shapes, and a piece of mica cut in the form of a heart, the 
border much decayed and the laminae separated, were also dis- 
covered." — Wilkinson. This account is quoted by many. Much of 
the material discovered was a secondary burial. It is near the 
mouth of Geneganstlet creek. 

10 An Oneida village has been described at Chenango Forks. 
The cemetery was on the east side of Tioughnioga river, on the site 
of the present village. It is reported that crouching bodies, covered 
with stones, were found. Modern relics. 

11 "In the town of New Berlin adjacent to the Indian fields of 
Otsego county, gun barrels, stone tomahawks and human skeletons 



54 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



have been plowed up." This was on the farm of Air Scribner. — 
Child. Directory, 1869-70 

12 Conihimto was four miles below Unadilla on the west side of 
the Susquehanna, and was also called Gunnygunter. It was de- 
stroyed in 1778. — Sullivan, p. 23. But for the situation this might 
be supposed a corruption of Oneonta. There was also a iMohawk 
village farther down but north of Oquaga, called Wauteghe and sug- 
gesting the later Otego. 

13 A few hut rings one and one half miles north of Greene were 
on the river bank. Relics all the way to Greene. 

14 I\Ir Hildburgh reports a camp site about three quarters of a 
mile north of Greene and on a hill near the east side of the river. 

15 Fishing camps along the river between Greene and Chenango 
Forks. 

16 F. H. AVilHams, of Greene, writes, There were many camp 
sites here, about 20 within five miles of Greene. In fact at any place 
along the Chenango river where a spring is or was found, you can 
be fairly sure of a camp site." He describes a very large one on 
Indian brook, two and a half miles south of Greene on the 
west side of the river. The site is a mile from the Chenango, and 
there are about 70 hut rings arranged in three groups. Those 
farthest down the brook are in two lines, eight to 10 feet apart in 
the rows. The next group is similar and about 30 rods away. 
These might be long houses quite as well. The third is in the form 
of a crescent, and there are also a few scattered fire places. The 
relics are early. 

17 There is a large camp at Stillwater flats, about five miles south 
of Greene on the east bank of the river. 

Clinton county. Though the place where the French and Iro- 
quois first met in battle, little was known of the aboriginal occupa- 
tion of the west side of Lake Champlain until 1878. Dr D. S. Kel- 
logg of Plattsburg then commenced investigations, and within four 
or five years located ''21 other dwelling sites in the Champlain valley 
from He Aux Xoix in the River Richelieu, to Ticonderoga on Lake 
Champlain." He had just described a Plattsburg site, and the quo- 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



55 



tations to be made are from a paper in Proceedings of A. A. A. S. 
1887, p. 308. 

He knew of others on the east side of the lake and thought there 
were others as yet unknown. There are no earthworks or mounds 
and few graves had been found. The stone rehcs were of the usual 
kinds and at that date over 20,000 had been collected. " Grooved 
axes and nicely grooved hammers, pestles and ornaments are rare. 
The material of which the chipped implements were made is found 
throughout the whole region. The so-called flint is abundant in the 
limestone of the locality. On Butler's island in Lake Champlain 
detached pieces of the dark and striated flint, a foot or more in 
diameter, are so driven against each other by the action of the waves 
that their surfaces resemble the roughened surfaces of ordinary flint 
hammers. Of copper spearheads, hatchets and gouges, about two 
dozen have been found. These have been entirely surface or field 
finds. Not a copper relic has yet been obtained from a dwelling 
site. Bone awls, punches and harpoons are found only in connec- 
tion with broken animal bones and other remains in some of the fire- 
places. Pottery, entirely in fragments, is abundant. In fact I 
should hardly claim a place to be a village site unless a considerable 
amount of pottery were found in it. Pipes, both of pottery and of 
stone, plain, ornamented, and sometimes representing the head of a 
bird or of some other animal, are not very rare." 

Some of the aborigines however did not use pottery, but vessels 
of bark. The occurrence of naturally worked flints may be com- 
pared with the Jesuit account of the collecting of these near Crown 
Point in 1668. The occupation of Lake Champlain before the 
Huron war is attested by the French explorer. He saw four beauti- 
ful islands, 10, 12 and 13 leagues in length formerly inhabited, as 
well as the Iroquois river, by Indians, but " abandoned since they 
had been at war the one with the other." Looking at the Green 
Mountains, he asked the Indians if those parts were inhabited. 
They answered me. Yes, and that they were Iroquois, and that there 
were in those parts beautiful valleys and fields fertile in corn." On 
the Dutch map of 1616 the east side of the lake is termed Irocoisia. 



56 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Dr Kellogg gave an account of a Plattsburg site as a sample of 
others. The following list he sent without notes. They are mostly 
on the lake. 

1 West side of the county on the south line of Ellenburg at Mer- 
rill's north end of Upper Chateaugay lake, east side of the outlet. 

2 On the east shore of Lake Champlain north of Rouse Point. 

3 At Coopersville in the same town and east of Chazy river. 

4 Two sites on the lake shore at the commencement and end of 
Pointe au Fer. 

5 In the same town and on the lake shore, four sites from King's 
bay to the south line of the town. 

6 Near the north line of Chazy on the lake shore and north of 
Little Chazy river. 

7 In Beekmantown and near the north line. Two sites on the 
south shore of Monty's bay. 

8 In the same town, on the north shore of Tredwell's bay. 

9 A site north of East Beekmantown. 

10 In town of Plattsburg near the north line. A site west of 
Woodruff pond and two between it and the lake. 

11 Four sites at the head of Cumberland bay in the same town. 

12 A site about half-w^ay along the outside shore of Cumberland 
head. 

13 One in the city of Plattsburg on the shore north of the Saranac 
river. 

14 One in the same town a mile east of Morrisonville and on the 
northeast side of Saranac river. 

15 At Fredenburg falls south of the river. 

16 On the lake shore in the same town is a site south of a small 
creek and north of Bluff point. There are also two sites between 
Bluff point and a stream on the south. 

17 A site is on the lake shore on a small creek at the south line of 
the town of Plattsburg. 

18 A site on the west shore of Valcour island south of a projecting 
point. 

19 A site in the town of Saranac near the east line. It is south of 
the Saranac river, and one and one half miles southwest of Elsinore. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



57 



20 In Schuyler Falls^ one and one half miles southwest of Mor- 
risonville. 

21 Near the south line of Schuyler Falls and on the Salmon river 
a mile east of the village of Schuyler Falls. 

22 On the lake shore at Port Jackson in Peru. 

" 23 In the same town near the mouth of Little Ausable river. 

24 Three between this and Bagg's on the Ausable. 

25 In Peru on the end of Ausable point. 

26 In Ausable near the north Hne on the Little Ausable, half a 
mile north of Harkness. 

27 In the same town southeast of Ausable station, a mile north of 
the river and two east of the railroad. Another south of Arnold 
hill. 

28 There is a workshop of half an acre a mile north of the Little 
Ausable, and about four miles from both Ausable Forks and Clinton- 
ville. Flint chips are abundant, with a few arrowheads. 

There is a site on the west shore of North Hero island at the south 
end and opposite Long point. Another is toward the south end of 
South Hero on the west shore and northeast of Providence island. 
Some remarkable relics have been found on the northeast shore of 
the lake. 

Columbia county. This was in the Mahikan territory and the 
title was early extinguished. There were some small villages of 
river Indians, but little has been reported. 

1 A spring on the side of Mount Tom in Copake was called Tagh- 
kanick, and was a favorite Indian resort. 

2 " A place called by the natives Wawanaquassick, where the 
heaps of stone lie, being near the head of a certain kill or creek 
called Nanapenahakan, which comes out of a marsh lying near the 
said hills of the said heaps of stones, upon which the Indians throw 
one upon another as they pass by, from an ancient custom among 
them." — Doc. hist. N. Y. 3 -.693. This was on the north line of Liv- 
ingston Manor and on the north line of Taghkanick also. Such 
heaps have been found elsewhere in New England and in New York. 

3 In the state museum are arrowheads from Stuyvesant. 

4 S. L. Frey reported a village site at Catskill station. 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Few sites have been reported in this county, but from the many 
Indian names and favorable places there should be more. 

Cortland county. Cortland county was little more than a 
thoroughfare for the aborigines, nor was it much used in this w^ay 
until after 1700, when the Iroquois had frequent business with Penn- 
sylvania. An account of some curious caches in Homer has an ex- 
travagant sound, but others have been found between Cortland and 
the Tioughnioga river. Flint arrowheads have been found im- 
bedded in trees on the west bank of this stream. I\Ir Goodwin 
opened a mound in 1855, which contained charcoal, " fragments of 
mouldering bones and singularly wrought impressions on the sur- 
face of dark, slatish colored stones." — Goodzi'in, p. 141. The 
locality was not given. 

1 A small site on the west bank of the river north of Blodgett 
Mills, with arrowheads and other articles. 

2 Dr Hunt built a house in 1794 a mile south of Marathon on 
the east side of the river. It was on a knoll where there were many 
circular depressions near together. About 1850 these graves were 
opened, and earthen vessels and human bones were found. — Good- 
win, p. 226 

3 A camp in Lapeer south of ]\Ir Genung's house on a blufif 
near and overlooking Big brook. — Goodzi'in, p. 259 

Delaware county, i There was an Indian fort at Sidney Plains^ 
of three acres inclosed by mounds and surrounded by a ditch. It 
was on the Susquehanna in the northwest corner of Sidney. "From 
early times the place has been called the fort grounds." — French, 
p. 264. This may be the fort of which David Cusick spoke as the 
second home of the giant, the first being at Oxford. 

2 There was an Indian village at the mouth of Cole's brook^ on 
the north side of the Dela\vare in Colchester. Some apple-trees re- 
mained. — French, p. 260 

3 " Near the mouth of J\Iill brook and on the banks of the Dela- 
ware are certain remains which bear a strong resemblance to works 
of art. j\Iany suppose them to have been ancient fortifications or 
w^orks of defense. In the vicinity was once found what was sup- 
posed to have been a stone battle axe, and arrowheads existed in 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



59 



great abundance in that immediate locality. . . They are two 
in number, each of a circular form, and they were surrounded by a 
high embankment protected by a deep ditch. The one on the east 
side of the river has been passed over many times with the plow, 
but much of its original form and symmetry are still visible. The 
other, on the opposite side, farther down the stream, is still sur- 
rounded by a deep ditch, filled with growing trees and underwood, 
but has less regularity and will not so soon attract the attention of 
the antiquarian." — Gould, p. 50, 51. Mr Gould's plan appears in 
fig. 24. This may be the one to which Schoolcraft alluded in his 
report (p. 208) " On branch of the Delaware a fort one thousand 
years old by trees." 

4 T. L. Bishop reports this and the following. Relics occur 
near a large boulder at Ouleout postofhce, a traditional meeting 
place for Indians. 

5 Several banner stones were found at the Vlie on the mountain 
three miles south of Oneonta. 

6 An old Indian orchard is on the north side of Charlotte river, 
west of West Davenport, and an old trail. 

7 Village of Adiquatangie at West Davenport. 

There were trails in this county and some Delawares lived near 
the head of the east branch of the Susquehanna. — Doc. hist. N. Y. 
7 150. The Susquehanna valley is said to be rich in rehcs between 
Otego and Afton. 

Dutchess county. This county lies south of the Mahikan terri- 
tory, though at one time some of this tribe were on Wappinger 
creek. The Wiccopees were above the Highlands on the east side 
of the river, and the Wappingers lived on Matteawan creek and east- 
ward to the Taghkanick mountains. The Sepascots were at Rhine- 
beck, but of the exact location of their villages we have no definite 
notes. A few Esopus Indians were also on the east shore of the 
Hudson in 1663, opposite Magdalen island. 

I A recent village two miles south of Bethel or Pine Plains, was 
the Moravian mission of 1740. — Smith. Dutchess, p. 302. French 
places this in the town of Northeast, " at an Indian mission house at 
the north end of Indian lake. The remains of this old mission house 
are still visible on the farm of Douglas Clark." — French, p. 273 



6o 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



2 Cemetery on lands of Myron P. Benton and also near Amasa D. 
Coleman's in Amenia. — Smith. Dutchess, p. 113 

3 Council grove at the Nook, by the river in South Amenia, and 
some cabins at the outlet of Smith's pond. — Smith. Dutchess, p. 
113 

4 Some recent graves on Apple Sauce hill in Dover were probably 
Pequots. — Smith. Dutchess, ^. 1^^ 

5 In October 1882 six skeletons were exhumed at Fox's point, 
Poughkeepsie. All the relics near these were early. Some were 
found east of the railroad. — Smithsonian report, 1883 

6 A village with recent relics at Noxon meadow in Beekman. — • 
Smith. Dutchess, p. 135 

7 A cache of flint was found at Green Haven, in the west part 
of Beekman. — Smithsonian report, i^yy, p. 307-8 

8 In the same original town, but in the part now called La 
Grange, " On the Sprout creek, which rises in this town a great 
quantity of bones have been accidentally discovered, lying promis- 
cuously as if a vast pile of human bodies had here been made and 
left to rot." — Barber, p. 133 

9 There were several cemeteries and orchards in Fishkill. — Smith. 
Dutchess, p. 175. A recent village was at Fishkill Hook. 

10 J. W. Nelson of Cold Spring located many sites from 
Denning's point, Dutchess county to Croton point, Westchester co. 
He did most at Denning's point, at the mouth of Matteawan creek. 
There he found early fireplaces and graves, of which he sent in- 
teresting notes to the writer. A large grooved stone was obtained 
there and also a broken one. 

11 This and the next are reported by S. L. Frey. Village site 
at Tivoli. 

12 Village at Staatsburg. 

13 Village at Milton Ferry. 

Erie county. Three Neutral towns were east of the Niagara 
river in 1626 but may have been in Niagara county. Two of them 
were Onontisaston and Ouaroronon, one of these being near the 
Seneca towns. In 1640 the most eastern Neutral village was On- 
guiaahra, probably west of the Niagara river. After the overthrow 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 6l 

of this nation the Senecas held their territory though the others 
had a common right to it. One early map has east of the Niagara 
river, " Ka Kouagoga, nation detruite." On Creuxius's map of 1660 
there are placed west of the Senecas, and between them and the 
Niagara river, Pagus Ondataius and Pagus Ondiasacus as names 
of the land, and also P. Ondieronii. These names may more 
properly belong to Niagara county, though it is yet disputed 
whether the Neutrals or Eries occupied most of Erie county. A 
discussion of this would be out of place here. 

Dr A. L. Benedict of Buffalo has kindly furnished a number of 
local sites but without notes. Those in Buffalo are mainly in two 
groups^ one about Forest Lawn cemetery, and the other on both 
branches of Buffalo creek. Most earthworks however are from 
Mr Squier's valuable work, which yet comprises but a part of what 
once existed here. 

1 A site in the town of Tonawanda almost opposite the head of 
Grand island. 

2 One on the river bank at Buffalo opposite Strawberry island. 
Many open air workshops occur along the river. 

3 A large grave was found near the river in Black Rock. The 
skeletons were " in a circle, with their heads radiating from a large 
copper kettle which had been placed in the center and filled with 
bones." There were other early and modern articles. — Squier, p. 
100. One of Dr Benedict's groups lay east of this and embraced 
eight sites. 

4 A small mound, called Dah-do-sot or artificial hill by the 
Senecas, was toward Buffalo creek, and a mile nearer the center 
of the city than the old fort on that stream. It was originally 5 
feet high, and nearly 40 feet around, with a corresponding depres- 
sion on one side. — Squier, p. 74, 75 

5 An earthwork on Buffalo creek near the city is of about 
four acres. Red Jacket and Mary Jemison were originally buried 
there. It was near the old mission house; the council house 
was a mile away toward Buffalo. It was somewhat semicircular 
and had one gateway. Lodge sites and broken pottery were found 
within. It was the reputed scene of the last battle between 



62 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the Kahkwahs and Senecas. — Sqiiier, p. 73-75, pi. 9, no. i. _ Mr 
Squier's plan is given in fig. 29, the area being about four acres. 

6 Site on Smoke's creek on the north side and west of the rail- 
road. 

7 Site near West Seneca station with some more camps to the 
northeast. 

8 A burial mound on Grand island has been explored and re- 
ported by H. L. Reynolds. 

9 North of the group in Lancaster, and five or six miles distant 
on the limestone plateau, was a series of works passing through 
Clarence and a mile or two apart. The first was two and one half 
miles south of Clarence hollow (Clarence postoffice). It was a 
curved bank across a promontory, with two gates and broken pot- 
tery. — Squier, p. 78, pi. 10, no. 2. Openings of a few acres each 
were found at the settlement, west and south of Clarence hollow 
and along the Lancaster hne. — Johnson, p. 133. Squier's plan 
is in fig. 32. A circular work in Clarence was a mile north 
of the last, and about 300 by 400 feet in diameter. Flint flakes, 
pottery and caches were within. A cemetery was reported between 
this and the last, and also an ossuary half a mile northwest, 14 
feet square and 4 or 5 feet deep. — Squier, p. 78, pi. 10, no. 3. Hi^ 
plan appears in fig. 28. Mr Reynolds reported this cemetery as 
large and two miles south of Clarence hollow. 

10 A circular work was on the terrace two miles of¥, not 
far back of Clarence village. — Squier, p. 79. Another a mile beyond 
contained less than an acre. The bank and ditch were irregular 
in size and there were caches within. The work is on a sandy, 
slightly elevated peninsula, which projects into a low tangled 
swamp." The outline is elliptic and a cemetery was near. On 
the plate it is said to be one and one half miles southwest of Clarence 
hollow, but the text seems to place it north. — Squier, p. 79, pi. 11, 
no. I. His plan is given in fig. 33. A mile eastward was an 
ossuary with 400 skeletons, and in the same field were recent and 
early relics. A rude sepulture was in the rocks. — Squier, p. 79 

11 A few miles from Clarence the Batavia and Bufifalo highway 
passed through the last of the Clarence works. It was on the 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



63 



Vandewater farm. Clarence works are now obliterated. Some 
bone-pits, in addition to those already mentioned, occur in Clarence 
township." — Sqi'iier, p. 80, 81 

12 Five miles east of the last mentioned fort was one at Fisher's 
falls in Newstead, on the south side of Murderer's creek. It was 
somewhat oval and had caches. Squier thought it a work men- 
tioned by Kirkland in 1787. — Sqiiier, p. 80, pi 11, no. 2. Fig. 30 
represents this fort. 

13 A small work on lot 2, Lancaster, was supposed to be the 
nearest to no. 4. It was four miles southeast of Lancaster village 
and near Little Buffalo creek. Almost circular, with four gates 
and several large caches. Area less than an acre. — Sqider, p. 75, 
pi. 9, no. 2. All Lancaster sites are obliterated. Fig. 35 is from 
Squier's plan, on a scale of 200 feet to i inch. Another was half 
a mile southeast of this, on or near lot 6 Lancaster. The outline has 
been called a curving triangle with five gates. The area was over an 
acre and there were large caches. — Squier, p. 76, pi. 9, no. 3. His 
plan is given in fig. 27 on the same scale. On the north side of 
Little Bufifalo creek was a circular work, with five gateways, 
inclosing an acre. A mound was across the stream. — Turner. 
Hoi. p. 35. Apparently the same. 

14 On the south side of this creek, opposite the fort mentioned, 
and between the creek and a small stream entering it, is a wall 
across the point. — Turner. Hoi. p. 35 

15 In Lancaster, probably on lot 3 of the late reservation, was 
a curious work on the south bank of Little Buffalo creek. It is 
on a bluff nearly 200 feet high, and is not large. It was rectangular, 
but there were wide gaps between the perfect sections of banks. — 
Squier, p. 77, pi. 10, no. i. The plan is given in fig. 36. 

16 Two miles southwest of this, on lot 29 of the same range 
and on the south side of Big Buffalo creek, was a similar work 
about 800 feet around, having three gateways, as well as an 
open space 10 rods wide at the southwest corner. Other works 
were reported at various places on the south line of the reserva- 
tion. — Squier, '^.77 

17 Hundreds of French axes have been found on Cazenovia 
creek and on the adjacent hills a mile south of East Aurora. Many 



64 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



also in Hamburg, Boston and elsewhere. There were also copper 
implements and several stoned-up springs. — Johnson. 28, 29 p. 
L. AV. Calver adds items of interest on East Aurora sites from his 
explorations in 1882. A large recent village was two miles from 
the village of East Aurora. A'enetian beads were so abundant as 
to give one spot the name of Bead Hill. Brass kettles and medals 
were found and many graves. 

18 Two hills in the north part of Aurora had circular works. 
Large human bones were near, and iron axes and pottery. — Wright, 
p. 283. North of East Aurora and close to the north line of the 
town were abrupt hills and muddy ponds. Two hills had circular 
works. — Johnson, p. 124. Another account speaks of burial mounds. 

19 Turner says there were more relics in Aurora than in any 
similar space in western Xew- York. There were many in the 
village both old and recent. — Turner. Hoi. p. 30, 31. Relics and 
some skeletons are found in digging most cellars in East Aurora. — 
Comley. I\Ir Calver found early relics on Fort Hill, not far from 
the main street of East Aurora. Clay pipes occurred elsewhere. 

20 There were several clearings near Boston Center. A fort in 
one inclosed tw^o and one half acres, and an artificial roadw^ay ran 
thence to Hamburg. Celts were abundant. — Johnson, p. 121. The 
roadway was probably natural. 

21 Eighteen ]\Iile creek. Here are vestiges of the Indians, old 
forts, town sites, etc. Time and scrutiny are alone necessary to 
bring out its antiquities." — Schoolcraft. Report, p. 224. The 
writer found some slight traces at the mouth of the creek and 
learned of nothing more then. iVfterward he saw early flint articles 
and gorgets from Hamburg and Idlewood. 

22 A mound, probably natural, was at the mouth of Cattaraugus 
creek. It was quite large and when it was washed away in 1844 
skeletons and recent relics were found. Marcus Sackett of Silver 
Creek described this and neighboring sites. 

23 A semicircular \vork on the north bank of Cattaraugus creek 
one and one half miles from the lake and about 17 rods long. Area 
less than an acre. Recent. — Cheney, p. 38, pi. i, fig. i. His plan 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



65 



is given in fig. 31. Mr Sackett found many iron axes there but 
no bank. 

24 A point with a bank 15 rods long near H. Silverheel's house 
east of Cattaraugus creek with bone pits and European relics. Fig. 
85 is a sketch of this by Mr Sackett. 

25 Mr Sackett reported a mound a mile farther south, and Mr 
Cheney gives others or perhaps the same. His plan is in fig. 25. — 
Cheney, p. 38, pi. i, no. 2 

26 Forest Lawn group in Buffalo, east of Black Rock^ embracing 
eight small sites. 

27 At some distance north of the mouth of Cattaraugus creek, 
where a road approaches the shore, was an early village. Another 
was near the creek^ northeast of Irving. Visited by the writer 
with Dr R. M. Evarts in 1899. 

28 Near schoolhouse no. i was a village between the creek and 
road. Southeast of this was another near the creek^ possibly 
fortified. 

29 Due east of the last was an earthwork on the edge of the bluff 
and half a mile from the creek. 

30 Another fort was half a mile farther east, and half a mile 
beyond is a remaining mound about five feet high. It is in a level 
field. Dr R. M. Evarts, of Silver Creek, was the writer's guide 
through this interesting group. Mr Cheney reported a mound and 
excavation in this vicinity, p. 39, pi. i, no. 3. Fig. 26 is taken from 
this. 

31 L. W. Calver found a large workshop in the village of Will- 
iamsville, with local and foreign materials. 

Some supplementary remarks may be made on Erie county, 
founded on the local collections of the Buffalo society of natural 
sciences. A string of rice shells, tinged with copper, came from 
a grave on Barnard street. Village sites east and southeast of 
Buffalo had early flint articles. Similar sites were north of the city^ 
and others in the Parkside district and on Seneca street and on the 
Abbott road. A site on the^ Indian Church road was of a mixed 
character. The articles were mostly of the Iroquois type but there 
were early scrapers in the refuse. At this place and one other, 
perforated Melantho shells were found. 



66 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



At several places on Smoke's and Cazenovia creeks were early- 
sites and fine serrated scrapers occurred on some of them. They 
have heretofore been found only at Canajoharie. Among the early 
articles near Buffalo are bird amulets and gorgets, with many 
articles of bone and some pottery. Xo native copper has been 
collected and no stone tubes. With one prominent exception the 
Iroquoian sites are at a considerable distance from the lake and 
river. The flint used was mostly of a light color and many very 
small and slender triangular arrowheads are found. This is a 
marked feature of the vicinity. 

Essex county. There are no important sites in this county, but 
many traces of early and late passage. On early maps the New 
York wilderness is called the hunting grounds of the Five Nations, 
and it was their tradition that it had never been otherwise used. 
The locations given will be of a general nature, though Dr Kellogg 
has examined some small sites along the west shore of Lake Cham- 
plain. Spht Rock was the northern boundary mark of the i\Io- 
hawks. Crown Point has been considered the scene of Cham- 
plain's battle with them. They collected flints for use nearly two 
miles north of Ticonderoga. 

1 " The vestiges of Indian occupation in North Elba and the 
territory around the interior lakes leave no doubt that at some 
former time they congregated there in great numbers." — Watson^ 
p. 216. A supposed recent village has been reported at North 
Elba. — Smith. Essex, p. 467 

2 Arrowheads, etc. were abundant at Elizabethtown. — Smith. 
Essex, p. 467 

3 Large arrowheads, pestles, mortars, chisels, gouges, knives, 
axes and pottery, occur in the north part of Ticonderoga, " along 
the creek, the flats of Trout brook, and especially near the rapids 
at the head of the outlet." Recent articles were also abundant. — 
Smith. Essex, p. 381 

Franklin county. Burial mounds occur on islands in the St 
Lawrence, and camps along its banks, but settled towns were usually 
inland. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



67 



1 St Regis is on the boundary line on the St Lawrence; the 
inhabitants are mostly of Mohawk, Onondaga and Cayuga lineage. 
The band has been recently taken in by the Six Nations of New 
York to supply the place of the Mohawks. A burial mound on 
St Regis island was opened in 181 8. The upper deposits of bones 
were well preserved. The lower ones were charred. — Squier, p. 15; 
Hough, p. 25 

2 Near this on the east bank of St Regis river another was after- 
ward opened. — Hough, p. 25 

Fulton county, i It is said that there were two Indian villages 
in Garoga before the revolution, one near Garoga and the other 
near Stink lake. Flint arrowheads, etc. were found. — Frothingham, 
P- 567 

2 A site of four acres on Indian hill in Ephrata is on an oblong 
and steep sandy hill east of Garoga creek. Originally the palisade 
holes could be seen, but not when the writer explored it after it 
had been long cleared. Mr S. L. Frey says that the pits from 
which the clay for pottery was taken, are abundant along the 
foot of the hill near the small stream on the east side. It is the 
oldest Mohawk site having pottery with human figures upon it, 
and one long brass bead has been found. It was well described 
by Mr Frey in the American naturalist in 1885, and was probably 
occupied about 1600. 

3 An early stockade of about the same date on the east bank 
of Cayadutta creek a mile north of Sammonsville, was found in 
1892. A trench across a ridge about 349 feet long, inclosed a 
triangle between two ravines. This was 369 feet long. Relics as 
in the last, even to the long brass bead. Fig. 34 is from R. A. 
Grider's measurement and plan. One by Robert M. Hartley, 
in Popular science news, June 1896, is somewhat different. Area 
two and three fourths acres. Unio shells abundant. 

4 There are many arrowheads on Summer house point, and on 
Sacondaga Vly town of Broadalbin. — Frothingham, p. 491 

Genesee county. The state museum has articles from this 
county early and recent. Mr Squier said there had been many 
interesting sites, but they were then hard to trace and some could 
not be defined. 



68 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



1 " In the town of Alabama in the extreme northwest of the 
county, were once three of these works all of small size. . . 
This town adjoins the town of Shelby, Orleans co. on the south, 
and touches Newstead, Erie co. on the west. It will ultimately be 
seen that its ancient works constitute part of a chain extending 
from the lake ridge on the north, to Buffalo creek on the south- 
west, a distance of 50 miles. Not less than 20 ancient works are 
known to occur in this range." — Squier, p. 64 

2 Tonawanda is a modern Seneca village on that reservation 
and along the Tonawanda creek. It seems to have been near here 
that Mr Kirkland came to another fort on his way toward Buffalo, 
but farther east. " On the south side of the Tanawande creek 
at a small distance, are to be seen the vestiges of another ancient 
fortified town." — Yates, p. 18 

3 The old fort in Oakfield, has a ditch and bank inclosing 10 
acres." — French, p. 327. It is half a mile west of Caryville, and was 
the best preserved of these works which Squier saw. There are 
five gateways, and a graded way to the water. The general outline 
is oval and the lodge sites were plainly seen. Broken pottery was 
found, as in all such works. There had been traces of palisades 
by one of the gates. It was 800 feet long by 600 wide. — Squier, 
p. 65, pi. 8, no. 2. His plan is in fig. 38. 

4 A mile northeast of this was a large work called the Bone fort, 
because a mound was inside " 6 feet in height by 30 at the base, 
which was entirely made up of human bones slightly covered with 
earth." Squier thought this certainly one of the works described 
by Rev. Samuel Kirkland in 1788. Six miles west of Batavia " he 
rode to the open fields and arrived at a place called by the Senecas 
Tegatainedaghque, which imports a doubly fortified town or a town 
with a fort at each end. Here he walked about half a mile with 
one of the Seneca chiefs to view the vestiges of this doubly fortified 
town. They consisted of the remains of tvv^o forts, the first con- 
tained four acres of ground, the other, distant about two miles at 
the other extremity of the ancient town inclosed about eight acres. 
The ditch around the first was about five or six feet deep. A small 
stream of water and a high bank circumscribed nearly one third 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



69 



of the inclosed ground. There were traces of six gates or open- 
ings^ and near the center a way was dug to the water. . . At 
some places at the bottom of the ditch Mr Kirkland ran his cane 
a foot or more in the soil, from which circumstance he concludes 
that the ditch was originally much deeper. Near the western (?) 
fortification which was situated on high ground, he found the re- 
mains of a funeral pile, where the slain were buried after a great 
battle^ which will be spoken of hereafteif. The mound was about 
six feet in height by 30 feet diameter at the base. The bones ap- 
peared at the surface, projecting in many places at the sides." — 
Squier, p. 66, 67 

Mr Squier's quotation from Yates and Moulton's account of 
Mr Kirkland's journal is not exact, but the only material difYerence 
•is a change from " northern fortification " in the original, to west- 
ern." — Yates, p. 16, 17. It will be noticed also that Kirkland 
speaks of the bone mound as being near the fort, as is probable, 
instead of inside. 

5 Fort hill in Le Roy is three miles north of Le Roy village. 
Squier gave a plan by L. H. Morgan essentially reproduced in fig. 
37. It is on a table-land bordered on three sides by the deep ravines 
of Fordham's brook and Allen's creek. The steep banks are nearly 
100 feet high. The peninsula is 1300 feet from north to south and 
quite wide. A bank and ditch at the broadest part were 1500 feet 
long and nearly straight, the western end curving down the ravine. 
Skeletons, pottery, beads, pipes, stone axes and arrowheads were 
found. Baked clay beads are mentioned. — Squier, p. 69, 70, fig. 7. 
C. Dewey sent a similar plan to Schoolcraft, given in the latter's re- 
port but having some arbitrary features and variations. He made 
the north trench 60 rods and the east line 30 rods. At the north- 
west corner was a cemetery. — Schoolcraft. Report, p. 246-49. It 
has been described by others, but while there are plain signs of par- 
tial occupation the supposed work is now conceded to be natural. 
The clay beads " are long and coarse." 



70 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



6 " On what is called the Knowlton farm about one mile south 
of the town of Batavia is a small natural elevation which was used 
as a burial place by the Indians. It has been mistaken for a mound. 
Various relics have been discovered in plowing over it." — Squier, 
p. 71. ''There are still traces of a mound on Knowlton's farm a 
mile from Batavia up the Tonawanda. Bones and glass beads have 
been plowed out of it." — Schoolcraft. Report, p. 21^. It was about 
50 rods from the creek, and eight feet above the general level. — 
Schoolcraft. Report, p. 282. This seems the one mentioned by 
Macauley as north (?) of Batavia, and originally 100 feet around 
and 10 or 12 feet high. — Macauley, 2:113 

7 One similar, two miles south of the last, and on high ground. 
It was " of circular form and with a radius of about one rod." 
Both were discovered about 1810 and nothing was found in them^ 
but human bones. — Schoolcraft. Report, p. 282 

8 " Two miles beyond the second was discovered a burial ground. 
At that place were plowed up shell, bone or quill beads. . . 
Beads of shell, bone or porcupine quills have often been found." — 
Schoolcraft. Report, p. 282. It is the tradition of the Onondagas 
that their first wampum was of bird quills, but this is the only 
statement the writer has seen of finding quill beads. If correct they 
could hardly have been old. 

On his way to Buffalo Mr Kirkland left the hights and came 
to a barren plain with one very remarkable spot of nearly 200 
acres, and passed a steep hill on our right in some places nearly 
50 feet perpendicular, at the bottom of which is a small lake afford- 
ing another instance of pagan superstition. The old Indians affirm 
that formerly a demon in the form of a dragon resided in this lake, 
and had frequently been seen to disgorge balls of liquid fire, and 
that to appease his wrath many a sacrifice of tobacco had been 
made at the lake by the fathers. . . At the extremity of this 
barren plain we came again to the Tanawande river and forded 
.it about two miles above the Indian town called by that name." — 
Yates, p. 18, 19 

9 W. L. Hildburgh reports a small village site about a mile 
north of Le Roy. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 7 1 

10 A cemetery in a gravel bank six miles south and east of 
Bergen, has skeletons in a sitting posture, with and without early 
reHcs. There are fireplaces near. Reported by C. F. Moseley. 

Greene county, i There are sites near Leeds about four miles 
northwest of Catskill, on Catskill creek and on the plain. For notes 
on some sites thanks are due George H. Chadwick of Roches- 
ter. Others were furnished to Beer's History of Greene county, by 
Henry Brace. 

2 The southwest corner of Jefiferson flats, called Castle hights, 
overlooks an old cemetery. On the plain below was a rude stock- 
ade. On the flat between the Catskill and Kaaterskill was another 
village, and on the hill nearly 600 feet north stood a fort. An 
Algonquin tribe lived on the plains below the junction of the creeks 
two miles from the river. There was a cemetery. — Hist. Greene co. 
p. 89, 90 

3 On the south side of the Catskill about half a mile from the 
river and south of the town^ was a hamlet at the foot of the Hope- 
nose with abundant early relics. A work shop was a little south, 
and a cemetery was on the east side of the hill. — Hist. Greene co. 
p. 106 

4 On the north side of the creek at Femmen Hook was a ceme- 
tery with early relics. Also a village half a mile west of Catskill. 

5 A heap of Unio complanatus shells on the river bank three 
miles below Catskill also contained traces of the aborigines. There 
were lodge sites for a long distance. 

6 There were traces of a camp under a ledge near the old Cats- 
kill mountain house with pottery, etc. 

7 Old fort " is placed near High peak on a West Shore railroad 
map of . 1893. This is in the town of Hunter, and may be incorrect. 
On the same map, Indian graves are placed near Sleepy Hollow, 
two miles northeast of the mountain house, but their existence is 
doubted. 

8 Mr Chadwick locates an aboriginal battle ground on the west 
side of Rogers island in the Hudson just above Catskill. 

9 A site on the plain on the northeast side of the Catskill near 
South Cairo. 



72 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



10 W. H. Conkling also reported a camp on Hog island in 
Bingate's creek south of Catskill village. 

Hamilton county. There were no known villages in this county, 
only camps on lakes and rivers. Herbert M. Lloyd^ of New 
York city, furnished the following notes of sites. He said, " I have 
examined the shores of a number of Adirondack lakes with only 
negative results, excepting in the cases of Lakes Piseco, Pleasant, 
Sacandaga (usually called Round lake) and Indian lake." 

1 On the northwest and west shores of Piseco lake along Ironde- 
quoit bay and near the outlet, are a dozen places where early reHcs 
have been found. On a large rock on an island at the outlet, " are 
three paralkl grooves about six inches long and half an inch apart 
evidently of artificial origin." 

2 At the angle and the bay of the outlet below^ were two camps 
yielding relics. i 

3 Three similar camps on the south shore of the lake between 
Benton's and Rude's points. 

4 Eight camps at the northeast end. 

5 In H. P. Smith's Modern babes in the woods, p. 276, it is said that 
" traces of an Indian fortress are still apparent on Pine island," in 
Smith's lake. 

6 On an island and on the main land on the east side of Sacan- 
daga lake there are two camps. 

7 There are three camps on the outlet of the same lake. One 
of these is on the lake shore and the others on Lake Pleasant. 

8 Another camp is on the north shore of Lake Pleasant at its 
inlet. These were reported by Herbert M. Lloyd. A camp 
on each side of this stream, on the north shore of Lake Pleasant. 
Another at the northeast angle of the lake, north side of the outlet. 

As the entire wilderness was but a hunting resort, the Iroquois 
thought it was not intended to be inhabited. On one early map 
it appears as " Cough-sa-ra-ge, the dismal wilderness." On another 
it is Cough-sa-gra-ge, or the beaver hunting grounds of the Six 
Nations." This name may come from Koh-sa-ke, winter, in allu- 
sion to the cold climate. On another map it appears as " Tysch- 
sa-ron-dia, where the Iroquois hunted beaver." An intelligent 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



73 



Onondaga interpreted this^ Where they shoot. It may be but a 
variant of the other name. 

Herkimer county. Most of this county is like Hamilton. 
Though belonging to the Mohawks it was west of their earUer 
towns. Macauley says, " Kowogconugharie-gu-harie, at present 
German Flats and Herkiifier, was abandoned some time before 
Nowadaga (Indian Castle). It contained several villages. The 
largest was on the south side of the Mohawk nearly opposite the 
village of Herkimer. Its site is still discernible from the number 
of holes which they dug to bury their corn during winter. 
It extended a mile or more, as these excavations would indicate." — 
Macauley, p. 297. This is very positive, but there certainly seems 
a mistake of -sites, as there were no Mohawk villages so far west, 
nor could the writer learn of any Iroquois remains there. The 
name used seems that of Canajoharie. 

1 On the north side of South lake, one of the sources of Black 
river, 20 miles east of Boonville, was a camp yielding reHcs with 
a burial place near. 

2 Very early relics have been found near Mohawk village. 

3 Indian Castle in Danube was so named from the upper Indian 
castle or fort, built in 17 10 on the flat just below the mouth of 
Nowadaga creek. There was a mission church there in 1768; 
it was the home of Joseph Brant and King Hendrick. 

Jefferson county, i A traditional fort on French creek near 
Clayton, taken by the Oneidas. 

2 A small burial mound opened in making the railroad to Cape 
Vincent. 

3 Many graves and camp sites were at the portage at Point 
Peninsula. 

4 Many graves were also on the Hoo\er farm at the head of 
Chaumont bay. 

5 A fort and cemetery at Depauville. These three were reported 
by Mr Twining. 

6 Circular mounds, with depressed centers about 30 feet across, 
are frequent on both sides of Perch lake and on Linnell's 
island. — Hough, p. 10. They are circular raised lodge sites 



74 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



with burned stones and camp refuse around the edge. D. S. 
Marvin reported about 200, sometimes almost touching. There 
have been no graves found and but Httle pottery. 

7 A work of the usual type in Hounsfield on the shore of Black 
River bay, between IMuskallunge creek and Storr's harbor. — Hough, 
p. II. It w^as two and one half miles from Sacket Harbor. 

8 A work in Hounsfield two miles from Brownsville. — Hough, 
P- 13 

9 An ossuary near Brownsville on Black river, 12 feet square 
and 4 deep. — Squier, p. 29. Hough mentioned this and said they 
were frequent. 

10 A natural mound in East Hounsfield on Elmer Everett's farm, 
used for burial. It is two miles from Brownsville. 

11 A bone pit in Rutland three miles east of Watertown was on 
a hillside and covered with large stones. Below these was a pit^ 
6 feet square by 4 deep filled with human bones. — Squier, p. 29 

12 Half a mile west of Black River village and north of the 
river w^as a fort nearly square but with rounded angles. There 
was one gate and the area was one and one quarter acres. This 
was in Le Ray. Skeletons were found and the usual relics. — 
Squier, p. 25, pi. 3, no. 3. His plan is given in fig. 45. One figured 
and described by Mr Hough is said to be the same and is on Aaron 
Poor's land. The diameter is 14 rods. There are fireplaces within 
and without and a cemetery. — Regents, 1851, p. loi, fig. i. His 
plan in fig. 46 differs much from Mr Squier's. 

13 Hough describes one on Matthew Parkison's land, a mile 
north of this, south of West creek. There are fireplaces within 
and without the walls. — Regents, 1851, p. loi, fig. 2. His plan is 
given in fig. 52. 

14 In the same town of Le Ray and four miles northwest of no. 
12, was a lozenge-shaped work, the most regular Mr Squier had 
seen in New York. There were two gates, and a considerable 
interval along a steep bank. Skeletons were found, and the usual 
rehcs. — Squier, p. 26, pi. 4, no. i. His plan appears in fig. 53. 

15 A larger and similar work was three miles west of the last 
and near Sanfords Corners. There were graves and relics. — 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



75 



Squier, p. 2y, pi. 4, no. 2. This work appears in fig. 54. It is now 
a garden. 

16 Another work was on the edge of the pine plains a mile east 
of the road from Sanfords Corners to Black river. 

17 Several other obliterated sites were known in Le Ray. One 
was near Felts Mills. — Squier, p. 27. There was a cemetery a mile 
south. 

18 J. S. Twining reported a village site on a hill in Carthage. 

19 An open village was nearly a mile north of Burr's Mills, with 
stone hearths. — Squier, p. 23. This was on the Woodruff farm. 
Another of eight circular lodges was on the Gifford place two miles 
northwest of Burr's Mills. 

20 A village of 15 circular lodges on O. Butterfield's place a 
mile west of East Watertown and on the north side of Rutland 
hollow. Village sites in this vicinity were reported by Henry 
Woodworth. There was a village on land of Mrs Woodworth and 
Mr Stewart a mile southwest of East Watertown. Stone and clay 
pipes and beads. 

21 A cemetery and an irregular work are on the terrace two and 
one half miles southeast of Watertown. — Squier, p. 22, pi. 2, no. 2. 
His plan appears in fig. 43. Hough reported two works on lot 29 
half a mile farther and another quite near. The one on Asa Good- 
nougli's land had three gates. A few rods off was a smaller cir- 
cular work. — Regents, 1851, p. 104, fig. 7. This is given in fig. 44. 

22 A curving bank across a ridge oil lot 31 half a mile east of 
Burr's Mills was a quarter of a mile from the Rutland line. — Hough, 
p. II. It was on the Lampson farm. — Regents, 1851, p. 104^ fig. 6. 

i The plan appears in fig. 50. 

23 A village of 15 circular lodges half a mile north of East Water- 
town. A similar village on the Howland place a mile east of the 
same village. Also clay pits and fireplaces on the Durham place 
one and one quarter miles east. Another village on the Fulton 
place one and one half miles east, and another on the Normander 
farm a mile east of East Watertown. This had 30 lodges. 

24 A sHght work on the Allen place south side of Rutland hol- 
low with many skeletons suggesting recent occupation. — Squier, p. 



76 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



24, pi. 3, no. 2. This is given in fig. 39. This was on the old 
Tamblin farm. — Hough, p. 13. The site has been referred to several 
owners. — Regents, 1851, p. 102, fig. 3. Hough's plan appears in 
fig. 47. 

25 There was a work near Tylerville, (South Rutland postoffice) 
in Rutland. — Hough, p. 13 

26 A work on a bluff half a mile west of Burr's Mills has bone 
and stone beads, with the usual relics. There is a bank across the 
bluff.' — Squier, p. 22, pi. 3, no. i. This is shown in fig. 42. 

27 A partly circular work on Dry hill, town of Watertown, is 
five miles southeast of that city and two miles north of a work near 
Appling. The area is eight acres. It was of long occupation and 
relics were abundant. A cemetery lay a little north. — Squier, p. 20, 
pi. 2, no. I. His plan is given in fig. 49. Really south of Water- 
town. 

28 A work on a high terrace in Adams has seven gates and 
many caches. It is in the northeast part of the town and there 
were graves just outside the walls. — Squier, p. 17, pi. i. This plan 
appears in fig. 40. Near Appling on D. Talcott's farm. — Hough, 
p. II 

29 A large work is one and one half miles southeast of this on 
a hill, one side of which is steep. A semicircular bank protected 
the sloping side. 

30 At the head of Henderson bay is a curved stone bank just 
above the water called Indian wharf. A trail ended there. — French, 
p. 358 

31 A work on Heath's farm, lot 25 near the west line of Rodman 
contained three acres. It was on the north bank of North Sandy 
creek above the forks. — Hough, p. 12 

32 A work two miles north of Adams. — Hough, p. 12 

33 A semicircular work was over half a mile northwest of Adams 
village on W. Benton's land and was 500 feet wide. The open 
part was toward marshy land and there were two or three gate- 
^^2iys. — Squier, p. 28, 29. This seems one mentioned by Rev. John 
Taylor in 1802. 

34 Hough reported several ossuaries in Ellisburg, and Mr Squier 
said that several old works once existed there. He figured one, 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



77 



three miles northwest of Pierrepont Manor with an area of one 
and one half acres. It was mainly an ellipse except where an 
opening was defended by a stream. There were two gates. — Squier, 
p. 27, pi. 4, no. 3. This plan is given in fig. 41. There was also 
a similar but larger work three quarters of a mile east of the last, 
and two and one half miles northwest of Pierrepont Manor. Caches 
and skeletons were found. — Squier, p. 28, pi. 4, no. 4. The plan 
appears in fig. 51. 

35 About a mile south of this group was another work on Mr 
Mendall's land. — Squier, p. 28. He mentions another at Clark's 
settlement. 

36 There was an open village near Pierrepont Manor with pot- 
tery and many skeletons having horizontal burial. 

37 There was a fort with several gates near Belleville on 
P. Durfy's farm. This is in Ellisburg, on North Sandy creek. 
One side is naturally defended. — Hough, p. 12 

38 There is a bone-pit in Ellisburg nearly opposite the old fort 
on South Sandy creek and near J. W. Ellis's house. — Hough, p. 14 

39 On the south bank of Sandy creek three miles from the lake 
was a fort with one side naturally defended. There are several 
small sites in the town and undescribed open villages. — Hough, p. 13 

40 An irregular crescent-shaped work of two acres was in the 
cemetery at Ellisburg four mile? from the mouth of South Sandy 
creek. 

41 There was a stockade on Snowshoe island outside of Sacket 
Harbor. — Squier, p. 29 

42 A work five miles from Watertown on the road to Evans 
Mills was nearly circular and had several gates. It was at Sanfords 
Corners^ on a branch of West creek. — Regents, 1851, p. 103 

43 A work on lot 2 in the northwest corner of Rodman is near 
J. Freeman's. There is a double bank inclosing a crescent- 
shaped area. It is about six miles from Watertown on a stream 
at the source of Stony creek. — Regents, 1851, p. 103, fig. 8. The 
plan is given in fig. 48. 

44 A work described by Rev. John Taylor was in the forks of 
the Sandy creeks and near the lake. 



78 



NEW YORK STA.TE MUSEUM 



Some additional sites were furnished by Dr R. W. Amidon of 
New York and Dr A. A. Getman of Chaiimont. 

45 An Iroquoian prehistoric vihage at the mouth of Perch river 
on the west side occupies several acres but is scattered. The 
ashes were quite deep in spots. Few stone articles were found, 
but many of bone and much pottery. Near the water were fishing 
camps of a different character. 

46 A similar village is on the west branch of French creek, about 
80 rods south of St Lawrence village. Pottery is abundant and the 
ashes deep. Few stone articles. 

47 On two points west of Chaumont and south of Chaumont 
river were fishing camps of mixed character. Pottery with conven- 
tional faces is abundant. One small fragment has a face like those 
of Onondaga and is an important discovery. 

48 Camps occur on Long point on the north side of Point Penin- 
sula. The pottery is old and crude. 

49 There is a large site at the west end of Pillar Pointy with 
ashes and pottery. 

50 Flint knives and arrowheads are found east of the stream 
and half way between Chaumont and Depauville. 

51 Arrowheads and broken pottery have been abundant on the 
Indian river in the village of Theresa. In 1898 a fine and perfect 
clay vessel was found. It had no peculiar features. 

52 Fishing camps near the mouth of Perch river. 

53 Large village on west branch of French creek, a quarter of 
a mile south of St Lawrence village. Pottery and bone imple- 
ments, with -few stone articles. Across a small stream are refuse 
heaps, in which a small double-pointed bone harpoon was found 
by Dr R. , W. Amidon. On the other side Dr A. A. Getman found 
a barbed bone fish-hook without a knob. Nearly a mile northeast 
was a camp site on which arrowheads and pottery , were formerly 
found. This is on the north side of the road. A similar site was 
less than a mile beyond, but south of the road. 

54 Hamlet on the end of Point Salubrious, near Chaumont. Pot- 
tery and pipes. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



79 



55 Camp on Long point. The pottery is mostly old and crude, 
but the writer found here some so indented within as to produce 
a boss without. 

56 Fishing camps on south shore and southwest of head of 
" Long carrying place." Old and crude pottery. 

57 Hamlets near Three Mile point. 

58 Flint knives and arrowheads between Chaumont and Depau- 
ville, east of the creek. 

No county, is more perplexing than this in locating sites from 
descriptions, partly from their number and partly from the number 
of authorities and their varying accounts. It will be seen that 
Messrs Squier and Hough did not always agree in their plans as 
has been the case elsewhere with others. That there are omissions 
is certain, that some errors will' be found is probable, as there was 
time for but slight personal examination. 

It is an interesting field and mainly prehistoric. While many 
things are like those of Onondaga, ossuaries show Huron ideas 
not prevalent among the New York Iroquois, who traditionally 
came out of the ground here. Mounds are more frequent, and the 
circular lodge sites of Perch lake are of a type unusual in New 
York. Their true relations are partly known but will not be con- 
sidered now. Local collections reveal peculiar articles while others 
are absent, and we gain some definite historic ideas from those 
called prehistoric. With slight exceptions the interior sites and all 
the forts are Iroquoian in character, while most of those near the 
St Lawrence and Lake Ontario are of earlier nations. 

Kings county. Few of the antiquities of this county have been 
reported except, in a very general way, nor were they ever conspicu- 
ous. The Canarsies occupied this county and part of Jamaica. In 
Notes geographical and historical relating to the town of Brooklyn, p. 
27, (a reprint of the edition of 1824) it is said, Heads of Indian 
arrows, beds of oyster and clam shells, denoting the former re- 
sidence of the aborigines, are frequently found in different parts 
of this town." 

I A few feet below the surface at the Narrows about 1837, more 
than a wagon load of Indian stone arrowheads were , found lying 



8o 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



together. . . They were of all sizes from one to six inches 
long", some perfect, others partly finished. There were also a 
number of blocks of the same kind of stone found in the rough 
state." — Fnrman, p. 31 

2 A barren sand hill in Brooklyn in 1826 was covered with 
vitrified and decomposed stones. From one and one half to four 
feet below the surface was a layer of ashes and cinders with broken 
clay pipes, coarse pottery and arrowheads. — Fnrman, p. 98 

3 There are immense shell heaps at Canarsie or ^^latlands, and 
on Bergen island. — Thompson, p. 66 

4 An old cemetery was found in South Brooklyn in 1897, on 
Avenue U, and near Ryder's pond and Sheepshead bay. Deep 
beds of oyster shells had the outer side of the shells uppermost. 
Pottery was found and over a dozen skeletons. There were a few 
other shells and fragments of bone. — Amer. arch. 1898 

Lewis county. Few sites have been reported here but the state 
museum has a few relics from Martinsburg. J. S. Twining 
furnishes the following notes. 

1 On the Kinsman farm, Martinsburg, skeletons and pipes, one 
of these having orifices for stems. 

2 On the east bank of Black river across from Deer River sta- 
tion are many very old hut rings with stone gouges, arrowheads 
and spears. 

3 Another site at Gates's mill yard is two miles above. 
Livingston county. This was the later territory of the Senecas 

and they may have partially occupied it at an earlier day. ' Most 
of the sites hoAvever are recent. 

1 Dynneganooh a recent village on the northwest margin of the 
great spring in Caledonia. Besides hatchets and copper kettles, 
curious pottery has been found there. — Doty, p. 82-83. This was 
one of the magic springs of the Senecas. 

2 Three miles south of the Wheatland forts on the Genesee and 
probably in Caledonia, was a mound once 8 feet high and filled with 
unarranged human bones. — Sqnier, p. 60 

3 In surveying the Kanawageas reservation in 1798 Judge Porter 
found an old fort on the open flats which included nearly two acres. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 8l 

He said^ " It corresponded in situation and appearance with many 
Others which I have seen in this part of the country and which seem 
to bear a high antiquity." — Sqider, p. 6i. On the west side of 
Genesee river, nearly opposite Avon springs, was Canawaugus the 
birthplace of Cornplanter. Iron axes, flint arrowheads and stone 
hammers are found there. — Doty, p. 75. There was a work in Avon 
on the flats of the Genesee, and not far from Avon springs, described 
by W. H. C. Hosmer. — Squier, p. 61. An inclosure on the flats 30 
rods north of the residence of the late Col. Jones. — Doty, p. 75 

4 A similar work existed in the northeast part of Avon about two 
and one half miles from the village of Lima. — Squier, p. 61. This 
would be northwest of Lima and close to the town line. 

5 W. L. Hildburgh reports a cemetery two and one half miles 
north of Lima with European articles. This or one nearer Honeoye 
Falls seems the Keinthe of Greenhalgh or the Gandachiragou of the 
Jesuits. 

6 Sgahisgaaah, a recent Seneca village, was at Lima. European 
articles are found. " There were traces of an old fortification on the 
ridge where the Indian village had been located, the west end of the 
ditch crossing the present highway on the ridge, a short distance 
west of the center of the moder'n village, and remained visible for 
several years after 1798." — Doty, p. 100-2. A separate site, but 
perhaps belonging to this, is a cemetery a mile north of Lima vil- 
lage where hatchets and knives occur with skeletons. Some skele- 
tons were found here in 1822, with earthen pots in their laps filled 
with squirrel bones and corn. Reported by Mr Reynolds who took 
his account from Doty. Of the first site, the latter says that the 
pipes had human faces, deer and other heads. This is supposed by 
some to be Greenhalgh's Keinthe of 1677. Squier says that the 
cemetery was large and partly covered by the present village. 
Raymond Dann describes a village on the electric road, half way 
between Honeoye Falls and Lima. The cemetery was on a knoll 
rising from a swamp. The relics are modern, but include an un- 
usual number of discoidal beads. A place west of this is called Fort 
Hill, and has modern relics in small numbers. 

7 There was a stockade in Livonia two miles northeast of Livonia 
village, perhaps of later date tjian that on Boughton hill. It was 



82 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



on a broad swell of land not commanded by adjacent bights, and a 
fine spring bad a basin of loose stones. There were large cemeteries 
on the north and west Avith recent articles. The area was lo acres 
and length 1050 feet. — Squier, p. 91-92, pi. 14, no. 2. The plan is 
given in fig. 55. Doty seems to describe this as in Avon two miles 
north of Livonia center and on the farm of John Caton and John 
Clary, but that town is too far west for his location if this was in- 
tended. Beads, stone axes and hammers are yet found. He calls 
this the early Gannounata (Dyudoosot), which is commonly as- 
signed to Ontario county. — Doty, p. 72 

8 Three miles eastward was a large work now obliterated which 
is said to have been octangular. — Squier, p. 93 

9 There was a work of at least 16 acres on a commanding hill in 
Livonia, three miles northeast of Livonia village on Mr Haddock's 
farm. It was a long oval earthwork with four gates, one opening 
toward a fine spring, and was one and one half miles northward of 
no. 8. — Squier, p. 62, pi. 8, no. i. The plan is given in fig. 58. 

On James Haydock's farm, and the timber on it was quite small 
in 1806. — Doty, p. 71 

10 On Fort hill, 30 rods northeast of Bosley's mills and by the 
Avon road near the outlet of Conesus lake, was a line of banks. 
The spot was covered with shrubs at the settlement by the whites 
and European articles occur. — Doty, p. 73. Apparently the site of 
1779 but occupied earlier. 

1 1 Conesus or Gahnyuhsas was a small Seneca village half a mile 
south of the head of Conesus lake. Pouchot called it Onistade. — 
Doty, p. 96 

12 "It is said that a mound containing a large number of human 
bones occurs near the head of Hemlock lake in the township of 
Springwater. At various places in the county large cemeteries are 
found, but most, if not all of them, may with safety be referred to 
the Senecas. Indeed many articles of European origin accompany 
the skeletons." — Squier, p. 63. Southeast of the lake two and one 
half miles. — Doty, p. 73 

13 Dyuhahgaih, an Oneida village which adhered to the English 
in the revolution, was on the east bank of the Genesee a mile below 
North's mills. — Doty, p. 97-98 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



83 



14 On Austin Wadsworth's Big Tree farm were two early burial 
mounds of interest. They are described in the Report of the U. S. 
bureau of ethnology, 1890-91, p. 515. 

15 Ohagi was a Tuscarora village of 1779^ on the west side of the 
Genesee river two or three miles north of Cuylerville. — Morgan, p. 
434. It was a mile north of Big Tree town on the west side of the 
river. — Doty, p. 84. A note to Sullivan's Campaign says, " Several 
writers claim that Canawaugus on the west side and Ohadi and Big 
Tree on the east side of Genesee river were destroyed in this cam- 
paign. . . No villages are mentioned in any account as exist- 
ing on the east side of the river, nor is mention made of any portion 
of the army being on that side. — Sullivan, p. 133 

16 Gaundowaneh or Big Tree was a Seneca village on a hill one 
mile north of Cuylerville. — Morgan, p. 434. It was on the west side 
of the river on the farm of E. P. Slocum in Leicester^ and was the 
last town occupied by the Senecas. — Doty, p. 85-86 

17 Deonundagaa or Little Beard's town was a Seneca village west 
of the Genesee at Geneseo. Ga-nah-da-on-twa was another Seneca 
village near this. — Morgan, p. 434. Genesee Castle was the great 
village of the Senecas, between Cuylervihe and the Genesee in the 
town of Leicester. It is Chenandoanes on Evans's map of 1776, was 
mentioned as Chenandanah in 1754 and is often called Little Beard's 
town. Sullivan said that it had 128 houses, mostly large and ele- 
gant. — Sullivan, p. 133. Dyu-non-dah-ga-seh^ Steep Hill creek, is 
best known as Beardstown and was in the east part of Cuylerville. 
There was a cemetery a mile south on Hiram Jones's farm. Relics 
are still found on the old village site. — Doty, p. 87-88. After 
De NonviUe's invasion the Senecas had a large town at the mouth of 
Canaseraga creek. It was moved near Cuylerville and 100 years 
ago was called Little Beard's town and Genesee Castle. — Harris, p. 
33 

18 Geneseo^ or Chenussio, is a recent village in a way, and Gen. 
J. S. Clark makes it the successor of the town above mentioned at 
the mouth of the Canaseraga. — Sullivan, p. 132. Gath-she-gweh-oh, 
a Seneca village near Williamsburg at the mouth of Canaseraga 
creek. — Doty, p. 99. At the confluence of the Canaseraga and 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Genesee and east of the latter. In old maps and journals it appears 
as Chentissio and Zonnesschio, and was the home of the trouble- 
some chief Gaustarax. — Doty, p. 132 

19 F. H. Crofoot, of Sonyea, says the old Seneca council-house 
was on the east side of the river, half a mile south of Geneseo. A 
mile farther was a large village at a spring. This had early relics. 
Half a mile farther, at Fall brook, is a recent site of 30 acres. 

20 On the farm of ^Lr Brimmer west of the Geneseo and Blount 
Morris road and 20 rods south of the road to Jones's bridge is an 
inclosure of two acres. — Doty, p. 77. Two parallel banks across a 
ridge between two ravines two and one half miles south of Geneseo 
and 60 or 70 rods west of the Blount ^Morris road leading to Jones's 
bridge across the Genesee. — Reynolds, p. 515. Apparently the same. 
There are no relics. The site at the mouth of Canaseraga creek 
F. H. Crofoot describes as the largest but one near the Genesee 
river. It has a frontage of half a mile on the creek and river, and 
extends back 50 rods. The relics are of a recent nature. A mile 
south of this and on the east bank of the creek is a similar site of 
about five acres. Srill another is a mile farther south, on the same 
side with an area of six to eight acres. 

21 Ganundasa was a village at ^loscow in Leicester. — Morgan, 
p. 435. A site of 10 acres, one and one half miles south of Fall 
brook, has both early and recent relics, and some pieces of steatite 
vessels. 

22 Squakie Hill is on the west side of the river opposite IMount 
^Morris, and there was a council house there. Also a cemeten,'. — 
Doty, p. 89. The AMiite Woman's spring '' was unearthed there 
Aug. 18, 189S. The stone which covered it had many figures on it. 
This is near White's canning factory. 

23 At Mount Morris an old mound was opened in 1835, which 
contained skeletons and early stone and copper articles. Some were 
of polished slate. — Barber, p. 248. Doty however says it was re- 
moved in 1820 and was on the site of Gen. Mills's residence. It was 
100 feet in diameter and 8 or 10 feet high. Skeletons, arrowheads, 
brass kettles and knives were found. The place was not called 
Sonojowauga after the chief but from a large brass kettle used in 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK. 



85 



distilling. — Doty, p. 95. It was the only recent Seneca town on the 
east bank of the Genesee. — Morgan, p. 437. Judge Porter knew of 
two earthworks on Smith and Jones's flats," near Mount Morris. — 
Squier, p. 61. Works on flats are elsewhere rare. A slide east of 
the Genesee exposed many human bones when Mary Jemison first 
came to the valley. 

24 " Gathsegwarohare was seven miles directly west of Kanagh- 
saws on the east side of Canaseraga creek about two miles above its 
confluence with the Genesee." It is at present occupied by the 
" Hermitage " and was the home of the Squakie Indians in 1779. — 
Sullivan, p. 132. On the east bank of Canaseraga creek, 2 miles 
from its exit from Groveland, Mr Crofoot reports camps on both 
sides of a ravine. There are early relics but no pottery. 

25 Ganasegago was at Dansville. — Morgan, p. 435. Kanuskago 
was the door of the Six Nations, (1756) whence none before had 
come to Fort Johnson. — Doc. hist. N.Y.y. 57. Many metalHc relics 
were found there. — Doty, p. 93. Before the revolution, according 
to tradition, a battle took place on a hill a few miles distant, between 
the Canisteo Indians and those living in this vicinity, during which 
a chief of the latter was killed. When the whites first settled here 
the spot where he fell was marked by a large hole dug in the earth 
in the shape of a man with arms extended. An Indian trail led by 
the place and the Indians on passing were always accustomed to 
clear away the dry leaves which had blown in. This chief was 
buried in an old Indian burying ground, which stood on the site of 
the present Lutheran church which was thickly covered with graves 
to the extent of two or three acres. His monument consisted of a 
large pile of small stones, gathered from time to time by the natives 
from a hill a mile distant, who, on passing, were accustomed to take 
one in their hand and add to the heap." — Barber, p. 250-51. Two 
rows of parallel holes, possibly for palisades, were two miles north 
of Dansville. — Doty, p. 79. Half a mile west of Dansville, south of 
the Ossian road, was a fort where clay vessels and pipes, ashes, 
skeletons and articles of stone and horn have been found. — Doty, 
p. 75. It was west of Canaseraga creek, and fig. 88 shows Mr Doty's 
plan. 



36 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



26 A circular mound of black earth and cinders once stood a few- 
rods east of the Havens's tavern, on the road from Dansville to 
Groveland. The earth was scraped into a deep pit near by. — Dotyy 
p. 76 

27 Another similar but smaller mound was on the road between 
Dansville and Scottsburg in Sparta. — Doty, p. 77 

, 28 The remainder are reported by Mr Crofoot, three being on the 
east side of Canaseraga creek. One of seven acres is five and a 
half miles from the town Hne of Groveland, measured along the 
creek, and seems very old. Fragments of worked steatite are found 
here. 

29 Close to the creek and two and one half miles south of the 
last is a site of half an acre, and 2 miles farther is another of four 
acres. 

30 A mile south of the Groveland station of the Delaware, Lack- 
awanna and Western railroad is a site of 15 acres, on both sides of a 
ravine, with early implements, including steatite. 

31 The remaining sites are on the Craig Colony lands, near Son- 
year station: they were reported by Mr Crofoot. Here he places 
Sonoyawa, on the west side of Kishaqua creek, and near the Erie 
railroad station. The relics are early and the ashes deep. The 
Senecas camped there recently, which may account for some modern 
articles. The site contains more than 20 acres. The bluff above 
the new laundry building was occupied for summer camps, and 
another camp was at the new industrial building. Flint implements 
occurred from the old sawmill to the railroad station. 

Madison county. The early homes of the Oneidas were in this 
county and most of the later ones. They were near Munnsville, and 
just east of Oneida creek when Van Corlaer visited them in 1634. 
His is our first account of their town. They received the Tuscaroras 
into their ample domain early in the i8th century. David Zeis- 
berger gave the names of several Tuscarora villages on the main 
trail, one of which has survived. 

1 A small burial and fishing place at Oneida lake on the east bank • 
of Chittenango creek. Bone relics. 

2 A camp with flint implements and flakes on the east side of 
Chittenango creek, east of lot 15, Manlius. A little north of this 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



87 



was a stockade on a high bluff at a bend of the stream, perhaps the 
one built by Sir William Johnson for the Tuscaroras, this being then 
called Tuscarora creek. The Turtle tree was there. 

3 A trail from Oneida to Chittenango crossed the creek a little 
above the turnpike bridge and passed by an old stockade and 
orchard on Col. Sage's farm near Chittenango village. — Clark, 
I 1384. The farm was once known as the Moyer and later as the 
Osgood farm. — Hammond, p. 602. Perhaps the Zeniinge of Zeis- 
berger. 

4 A cemetery north of Cazenovia lake and. two miles east of Oran, 
on the Hitchcock farm. Recent articles. There are lodge sites 
also. 

5 Many small camps at the head of Cazenovia lake and many 
signs of recent tillage. 

6 The plan of the stockade west of Cazenovia village in Clark's 
Onondaga and copied by Squier, is too large and wide. Fig. 60 by 
the writer represents the actual form. It is on the Hunt farm and 
is on a narrow ridge between two deep ravines. It was occupied 
not far from 1600 but no European articles have been found. A 
barbed bone fishhook suggests some knowledge of Europeans. 
Pottery with human forms and faces as ornaments, and some 
pecuHar clay pipes are among the relics. The post holes across the 
ridge at either end from north to south are yet (1898) distinct. The 
east line is about 330 feet long and the length from east to west 
about 790 feet, rapidly descending the ridge. Nearly midway the 
width is about 100 feet. There is one gate near the northeast 
corner and two at the west end. The total area is about four and 
one half acres. There are caches at the west end. 

7 Lodges and relics occur near the village at the foot of Caze- 
novia lake and there was a fish weir in the outlet. There are also 
confused stories of a fort in the village. 

8 L. W. Ledyard reported a fort on the Swetland farm about 
four miles southwest of Cazenovia village whence he had a fine 
grooved stone. He could give no farther account of it, but it has 
since been reported to the writer as a circular earthwork four miles 



88 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



south of Cazenovia and one and one half miles east of Delphi. It 
has flint arrowheads. 

9 Air Ledyard said there were graves on Quarry hill two miles 
southeast of Cazenovia. This may refer to a place on the Jackson 
farm one and one half miles southeast of Cazenovia village where 
A. G. Richmond got a large grooved boulder in 1897. This lay a 
little west of a comparatively modern Indian village site. 

10 Mr Ledyard reported an inclosure three miles northeast of 
Cazenovia village, east of Bingley and near the quarr}'. This or 
another has been described a mile west of Fenner. In the History 
of Madison county, p. 200, a breastwork with early relics is men- 
tioned east of schoolhouse no. 5. A skeleton was found in 1861 
while placing a flagstaff at the school. 

11 The Nichols's pond site in Fenner three miles east of Perry- 
ville, has been thought the fort attacked by Champlain in 1615 and 
has more points of agreement than others. The identification is 
due to Gen. John S. Clark of Auburn, but the site is in the Oneida 
territory, not the Onondaga. A limestone boulder on the site and 
near the pond and which is over 12 feet long, is probably the original 
Oneida stone. The usual Iroquois articles are found but no traces 
of a palisade. Four lines of pickets may have furnished their 
own support without holes. The stockade must have extended 
some distance into the very shallow pond, now sometimes dry, in 
order to secure an abundant supply of water. This is but a few 
inches deep. Ridiculous estimates have been made of the size of 
the village, which was not more than 500 by 700 feet, not including 
the pond. The site is a low plateau, extending over 800 feet from 
the road on the east to the inlet and low^ land on the west. Relics 
occur only on the west side; nothing appears in the stony ground 
eastward. The northern part is a thin woodland, and no traces were 
found in a plowed field south of this and 500 feet from the west 
bank. The village was confined to that part east of the inlet. Not 
far from the mouth of this the outlet leaves the pond, flowing east 
southeast. Some caches appear on the northeast bank. The site 
is secluded, with no natural defense. The low lands on the west are 
subject to overflow, but the site fairly agrees with Champlain's ac- 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 89 

co'unt. The Onondagas were then Hving- near Limestone creek. 
Fig. 59 is a general plan of the site by the writer, who has carefully 
examined it twice. Till recently only prehistoric articles have been 
reported there, but in 1899 several French iron axes were found, 
confirming its reputed date. 

12 Clay and stone pipes are found along the ridge in Lenox, a 
little farther north, but it is impossible to locate a work described 
and figured by Mr Schoolcraft. He places it in Lenox 10 miles 
northwest of Oneida Castle, which would be in Oneida lake. It 
should read southwest. He adds that it was on a stream a few 
miles above an iron cupola, probably Lenox furnace. He thought 
it a French fort, but his plan is unsatisfactory and the real traces 
seem aboriginal. It may have been near Merrillsville or on the 
other branch of the creek. 

13 Near Wampsville in Lenox there was an Indian village since 
the white settlement. — Hammond, p. 489 

14 The Oneidas moved northward in the i8th century, but still 
clung to their ancient valley and its vicinity. Canowaraghere, or 
Kanoalohale, the present Oneida Castle, was new in 1762, the old 
castle being still retained. This was 12 miles from Oneida lake^ and 
a fort was built there. There were then two villages one being near 
the lake. The fort seems to have been east of the creek. 

15 On the hills directly south of Oneida Castle, and two or three 
miles distant, is a reputed battle ground from the abundance of 
arrowheads and which is probably a village site. 

16 Canaseraga was the principal Tuscarora town, but may not at 
first have occupied the present site. In 1792 it was west of the 
creek, and so many Oneidas lived with the Tuscaroras that it was 
often called the Oneida town. There were many houses there when 
the whites came, 10 or more on the hill west of the creek. 

17 A large deposit of human bones is on Dunlap's farm in the 
northeast part of Stockbridge and there are graves on William 
Smith's farm. — Hammond, p. 733 

18 A fort in the southwest part of Stockbridge. — French, p. 393. 
This seems one reported by Gerritt Smith. A curved bank and 
ditch are said to remain, but the accounts given the writer indicate 



90 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



a natural formation^ with actual relics and some possible occupation 
on a hillside. 

19 Near Munnsville and east of Oneida creek the Oneidas lived a 
long time, removing short distances as occasion required. They were 
in that vicinity when Van Corlaer visited them in December 1634. 
This is the first record of them as a distinct people. Gen. James 
Grant Wilson accidentally discovered his journal a few years since 
and had it translated and published. From this a few notes regard- 
ing the town are given. "Before we reached the castle we saw 
three graves, just like our graves in length and height; usually their 
graves are round. These graves were surrounded with palisades 
that they had split from trees and they were closed up so nicely that 
it was a wonder to see. They were painted with red, white and 
black paint; but the chiefs grave had an entrance, and at the top of 
that was a big wooden bird, and all around were painted dogs and 
deer and snakes and other beasts. We marched boldly to 
the castle, where the savages opened to let us pass, and so we 
marched through them by the gate, which was three and a half feet 
wide, and at the top were standing three big wooden images like 
men, of carved wood, and with them I saw three scalps fluttering in 
the wind. . . This castle has two gates, one on the east and 
one on the west side. On the east side a lock of hair was also hang- 
ing, but this gate was one and a half feet smaller than the other one 
. . . This castle is situated on a very high hill and was sur- 
rounded by two rows of palisades. It was 767 paces in circum- 
ference. There are 66 houses but much better, higher and more 
finished than all the others we saw. A good many houses had 
wooden fronts that are painted with all sorts of beasts. There they 
sleep, mostly on elevated boards, more than any other savages." 

In 1677 Greenhalgh said that Oneida was " about 20 miles from 
a small river which comes out of the hills to the southward and runs 
into Lake Teshiroque, (Oneida) about 30 miles distant from the 
Maquaes river, which is to the northward. The town is newly 
settled, double stockaded, but little cleared land." 20 miles should 
be two from Oneida creek. In 1696 De Vaudreuil encamped on 
Oneida creek within a (French) league of the village." Next 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 9I 

morning' he crossed to the east side of the stream and destroyed the 
town. The sites in the vicinity vv^ill be described under one number. 

According to Schoolcraft the Oneida stone was of syenite and 
stood on a commanding eminence in Stockbridge. The White 
stone at the spring was also known as this. This had been placed in 
a fence by Job Francis, the owner. Another noteworthy stone of 
limestone was on Gen. Knox's farm a mile or more south. — School- 
craft. Report, p. 46-48. The truth is that there were several of these 
stones, and some were portable. There is a tradition that the 
Oneidas carried one to Wisconsin, but this is denied there. French 
describes it as a boulder of gneiss on the farm of James H. Gregg in 
Stockbridge, and now at the entrance of Utica cemetery. — French, 
p. 458. Mr Kirkland said it was a stone which a strong man could 
carry, standing by a chief's door but sometimes placed in a tree. 

None of these seem to agree with the Council rock east of the 
creek and southeast of Munnsville. It is said to have been carried 
away piecemeal. " Thomas Rockwell settled on East hill in Stock- 
bridge in 1813. The Council rock was on his farm which has 
been known as Prime's hill. 50 acres of this^ including the council 
ground, were sold by him." — Hammond, p. 745. Prime's hill council 
ground in 1805 was a clearing of half an acre with an entrance 
through the bushes on the east. In the center was a circle, 20 
feet in diameter and two feet above the general level, covered with 
fine coals. Within a radius of three miles around were many 
graves, with iron axes, brass kettles, pipes, etc. — Hammond, p. 102 

There are evidences that the whole range of high hills east of 
Oneida creek was once thickly peopled. . . Their burial grounds 
have been discovered in several places, from the south line of the 
town (Stockbridge) to the north on this range." The farms of 
Taylor Gregg, Ichabod Francis and William Smith are mentioned. 
The articles are mostly recent. — Hammond, p. 731-33. The Council 
spring is on the farm of Mary Doxtater at the foot of West Hill. — 
Hammond, p. 743 

20 Under this is placed a group of sites northeast of Munnsville. 
French says there was a burial ground a mile southeast of that 
place on the hillside. There is a small one there, but the reference 



92 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



is probably to a site two miles northeast examined by the writer 
in 1892. It is northeast of Mr Ellenwood's house and has abund- 
ant modern relics but no brown pottery. Skeletons are rarely 
found but it seems a long peopled and rather recent village. A 
little south is the Hog's Back where some have located a stockade, 
perhaps doubtfully. Half a mile farther south are old corn hihs 
in Mrs Cummings's woods. 

21 There were Indian cornfields near Madison lake in Madison, 
and an Indian opening in the same town. — Hammond, p. 602 

22 Woodman's lake and Leland's ponds belonged to the Oneida 
fisheries when their villages were near. These are in the pine woods 
in Eaton. — Hammond, p. 281 

23 Many relics have been found at Earlville and Poolville. — 
Hammond, p. 431 

24 The Windfall party built a church in Lenox, three miles south 
of Oneida Castle on the road to Knoxville. — Hammond, p. 114. 
St Peter's church also stood on a hill in A'ernon, southeast of the 
butternut orchard near Oneida Castle. A cemetery was opened 
west of the West Shore railroad depot, where the head of each 
skeleton rested on a modern brick. 

25 In 1794 the Christian party were at the foot of Stockb ridge 
hill near the Five Chimneys tavern. A few Oneidas remain. 

26 At one time 40 families lived near Hatch's lake and swamp 
in the southwest corner of Eaton. — Hammond, p. 293 

27 Two miles below Hamilton was a recent camping ground. — 
Hammond, p. 414 

28 As late as 1810 some Oneidas lived at Canastota. Some 
mounds were reported at Owen's point, Chittenango creek. 

Monroe county. J\Ir George H. Harris has given an excellent 
account of the sites and trails of Monroe county in the first 15 
chapters of the Scmi-ccntcnnial history of Rochester, 1884. Before 
his death these were issued separately, and entitled the Aboriginal 
occupation of the lozver Genesee country. He spared no pains to 
make this full and accurate. Mr Squier also did some good work 
there. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



93 



1 In the town of Greece the Erie canal forms the northern 
boundary of George H. Lee's farm. In digging it in 1820 or 
1822, 20 skeletons were found, but no articles with. them. — Harris, 
p. 27 

2 Mounds and burial places have been found at various spots 
along a supposed trail westward from Hanford's landing below 
Rochester. Large skeletons, copper ornaments, etc. were found in 
these. Half a mile east of the Lee farm on that of Samuel Trues- 
dale in Greece, several skeletons were exhumed in 1878, one of 
these being very large. This was separate from the rest under a 
low mound and with a piece of mica and an arrowpoint. — Harris, 
p. 26 

3 A mound was reported in Chili a few miles northwest of Scotts- 
ville. — Squier, p. 60 

4 E. P. Clapp reports an early village site half a mile north 
northwest of the river bridge between Scottsville and Henrietta, 
east of the river. There are many mussel shells but no graves. 
There is also an old cemetery west of and near Scottsville, in a 
gravel pit. The skeletons are drawn up, but no articles are found 
except a fiat stone at the feet of each. There is another cemetery 
80 rods south of the last, with large bones. The faces turn down 
and the hands are under the heads. A grave was found half a mile 
southeast of Scottsville, a fine pipe lying with the skeleton. Some 
pottery occurs farther east. 

There was a Seneca village at Scottsville below Ohagi. — 
Morgan, p. 434 

5 Southwest of Rochester and within three miles of Scottsville 
in the town of Wheatland were four old works. — Barber, p. 271. 
Others say two, and Kirkland visited two in 1798. The first he 
found " about two miles west of Allen's residence, which was on an 
extensive flat at a deserted Indian village near the junction of a 
creek (probably Allen's) with the Genesee, eight miles north of 
the old Indian village of Kanawageas and five miles north of the 
magic spring, so called by the Indians, (Caledonia) who beheved 
its waters had the power of petrifying all things subjected to their 
influence. This work inclosed about six acres and had six gates.'' 



94 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



It was nearly half circular with a natural bank on the fourth 
side. There was a covered way to the water. — Yates, p. 15-16. 
Squier also quotes this and adds that the usual relics were found. 
Half a mile north of this on higher land Mr Kirkland found a 
smaller and stronger work. Both had Allen's creek on one side. 
Mr Squier said that nothing indicated these spots " except the 
greater abundance of stones on the Hne of the former embank- 
ments." — Squier, p. 59-60 

6 Frank Kingsbury three miles east of Mumford plowed up 
bones in 1898 and then dug up five well preserved skeletons. 

7 At the upper Charlotte ferry and near by have been found 
arrowheads and stone pestles, bullets, etc. — Harris, p. 43 

8 A break in the cliff on the east bank of the Genesee, half a 
mile below the lower fall, makes a natural landing place which was 
a great camping ground. There were two mounds not over 100 
feet from the edge of the bluffy which have been levelled, but skele- 
tons and relics have been found. This is Brewer's landing, half 
a mile north of Hanford's which is on the other shore. — Harris, 
p. 23-26 

9 Squier vainly searched for a work between the river and Iron- 
dequoit bay, five miles north of Rochester. — Squier, p. 58. Harris 
found this. "An ancient fortification stood near the ford of a brook 
which rises in the little vale southeast of Rattlesnake point. It 
was the ruins of this fort for which Mr Squier searched in vain in 
1848." — Harris, p. 42 

10 Traces of a town and cemetery were found on Daniel Leake's 
farm on the east side below Brewer's landing. — Squier, p. 42 

11 Most of those in Rochester are grouped under this number. 
There was an old fort in front of Mr Hooker's house near Hooker's 
cemetery and North avenue. A large settlement was on the sand 
knolls half a mile west of the Culver farm and near North avenue. 
Another large town was on the top of the hill over which Lake ave- 
nue passes, and all the slope thence to the river and north to Han- 
ford's landing was used for camps. Work shops for flint were 
numerous toward the river end of Frauenberger avenue. There 
were camps at the Indian spring, at the corner of Spring street 
and Spring alley, and all the way thence to Hanford's. Near Elm- 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



95 



wood avenue an early town covered all Oak hill. Stone relics 
were found all the way from the feeder down to Red creek. Indian 
huts were scattered about the blufif near Franklin and North 
St Paul streets until 1819. — Harris, p. 39-42 

12 A work at Hanford's landing then three miles north of 
Rochester was " a semicircular embankment the ends of which 
extended to the very edge of the immense ravine. . . It had 
three narrow gateways placed at irregular intervals." — Squier, p. 58. 
There was no cemetery and the nearest known west of the river 
was two miles away. — Harris, p. 41 

13 There was a cemetery at the sand cut of the New York Cen- 
tral railroad east of the Allen's creek embankment. Many skele- 
tons and recent reHcs were exhumed in 1876. " Between the ceme- 
tery and the Pittsford road quantities of stone reHcs have been 
found indicating the site of a prehistoric town. West of this is 
located the great cairn of limestones." — Harris, p. 43. Mr Harris 
adds that the Senecas used to fish in some large ponds north of 
Mendon Center and many signs of camps occur along Allen's 
creek. — Harris, p. 61 

14 Dr A. L. Benedict of Bufifalo opened some graves six miles 
south of Genesee junction near Rochester. Mr Clapp reports a 
site at West Henrietta, near Red creek. 

15 There was a village at the present East Rush cemetery. — 
Harris, p. 60. Stone implements occur on the Thomas farm, one 
and one half miles southwest of East Rush. This is south of 
Honeoye creek and near the mouth of Stony brook. 

16 Northwest of this and half a mile southwest of West Hen- 
rietta Corners was another on Marvin Williams's farm. — Harris, p. 
60. Mr Clapp reports a camp two miles southwest of West Hen- 
rietta, just east of Sauger creek. There are fine arrowheads, and 
pottery. Half a mile southeast a large stone was found, laid on 
a good stone foundation. The stone was 5 by 8 feet across^ 
and a foot thick. It was covered by eight inches of soil. An old 
camp was half a mile southeast of this. A fine pipe and other 
relics came from a gravel pit half a mile southeast of West Hen- 
rietta. 



96 



NEW YOPK STATE MUSEUM 



17 Two considerable inclosures were in Rush near the village 
of West Rush and on the banks of Honeoye creek, which defended 
one of these on one side. The other was on higher ground 100 
rods southward. Each was of four acres and had caches and 
broken potter}^ — Squier, p. 60. Piles of stones of uniform size^ 
a little larger than a hen's egg, were found on Isaac Cox's farm, 
one and one quarter miles northeast of West Rush. 

Skeletons were found a mile northwest of West Rush. Many iron 
tomahawks and war arrowheads have been found in a slight gully 
three fourths of a mile northwest of West Rush, and 12 skeletons 
were exhumed in digging a cellar about the same distance north 
of that village. Across the road others were found. These were 
on the land of Peter IMartin and J. B. Hamilton. A little east of 
these were early traces of an earthwork. Similar traces have been 
reported north of Honeoye creek, over a quarter of a mile north 
of West Rush. At another village site half a mile Avest of West 
Rush, between the N. Y. C. railroad and the creek^ Mr Clapp says 
"Two distinct races have been found; the platycnemic man and 
also another race. There are many relics in the graves of the 
latter. Also pottery, pipes, etc., on the surface." 

18 " On the shore of Lake Ontario on a high bluff near Iron- 
dequoit bay in 1796 the bank caved ofif and untombed a great 
quantity of human bones of a large size." — Turner, P. & G. p. 428. 
It was a natural sand mound west of the present west angle of 
the bay. "As late as 1830 human bones of an unusually large 
size were occasionally seen projecting from the face of the blufif 
or lying on the beach." — Harris, p. 22. Others are placed under 
this number. " Two mounds occupy the high sandy grounds to 
the westward of Irondequoit bay where it connects with Lake 
Ontario. They are small, the largest not exceeding five feet in 
height." They had been opened and only charcoal and pieces of 
bones remained. Early reHcs were on this hight. — Squier, p. 
56-57, pi. 7, no. 2. Squier's plan is given in fig. 57. They were 
on the hill south of the Sea Breeze hotel about 30 feet northeast 
of the observatory. Harris was told that W. H. Penfield opened 
them in 1817 and found a " sword scabbard, bands of silver, belt 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



97 



buckles " and like ornaments. — Harris, p. 46. There was a gully 
east of these and a cemetery a few rods beyond. Harris says that 
the small island on the west side of the bay on which the Schneider 
house stands is of artificial origin. It was elliptic and 17 feet high, 
built of alternate layers of clay and sand, which were removed. 
In the center 15 feet below the surface was a bushel of fine stone 
implements. — Harris, p. 46. The French built Fort des Sables neai 
the Sea Breeze site in 17 16. — Harris, p. 63 

19 From Irondequoit landing to the lake all is historic according 
to Harris. There was an Indian cemetery just north of the float 
bridge road with 200 grave moimds in rows. There were great 
corn hills in the woods near by and there was a landing place on 
Plum Orchard point just below. — Harris, p. 45 

20 A trail ran near the lake to Sodus. " The village last occu- 
pied by Seneca Indians in Webster was located on the ridge near 
this path about one mile east of this bay, and the latter day Mis- 
sissauges camped on the same ground." Near this and in a hollow 
north of the landing 12 skeletons were found in a circle like the 
spokes of a wheel with feet to the center, where were rude stone 
relics. Modern relics occur all about Rochester on high lands. 
Graves in hollows or ravines have early ones. A mound on a 
bluff north of Dunbar hollow yielded many stone implements. — 
Harris, p. 45 

21 On the east shore of the bay opposite the mounds on the 
west side was a large sepulchral mound. — Sqiiier, p. 57 

22 A trail ran to a salt spring one and one half miles east of 
the bay and half that distance from the lake. There the Indians 
camped and made salt. — Harris, ^. 45 

23 Squier could learn nothing of a fort in Penfield mentioned 
by Macauley. — Squier, p. 58. Harris identified it with an oblit- 
erated fort on the sandbar trail north of the ridge and quite large. 
The arrowheads were large and broad. — Harris, p. 45 

24 Capt. John Schuyler built a trading post at the noted Indian 
landing on Irondequoit creek in 1721. The foundations were 
found in 1798. This was a place of resort. — Harris, p. 67. Half 
a mile south of this landing at some springs were many camps and 
relics. — Harris, p. 39 



98 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



25 There were springs and camps on the west side of this creek 
near a rift famous as a fishing place. — Harris, p. 43 

26 On a sand ridge in the town of Pittsford south of the Iron- 
dequoit valley and a mile east of Allen's creek is a heap of lime- 
stone boulders with no others near. The Indians looked on them 
with reverence. — Harris, p. 21 

- 27 Greenhalgh said that Tiotehatton was 30 miles west of Cana- 
gorah and had about 120 houses mostly large. Harris says 
" Totiakton was distant from Gannagora just 11 miles in a north- 
west direction. Its former site was located by O. H. Marshall in 
1847." Its name alludes to the bend in Honeoye creek, on the 
west bank of which it stood. Part of Mr Harris's general plan 
of the site is given in fig. 61. " It is in the town of Mendon on 
the northeasternmost bend of the Honeoye outlet two miles north 
of Honeoye Falls exactly 12J miles in an air line due south 
of the center of Rochester. The ground has been under culti- 
vation 75 years, yielding an annual harvest of antiquities. . . 
Three cemeteries have been discovered. . . all skeletons 
unearthed have been found in a sitting posture facing the east." 
Mr Sheldon found a square stockade of half an acre on the edge 
of the blufif and near the creek. It was built of logs 12 feet 
long, set closely together in the earth to the depth of four feet." 
This is a very modern style, though Mr Harris thought it was 
made just after De Nonville's invasion. — Harris,^. 58, 59. This 
was La Concepcion of the Jesuits which was burned in 1687. Ac- 
cording to George S. Conover it was removed to the vicinity 
of Canandaigua and called the second Seneca castle. It was visited 
by La Salle, and may have been abandoned soon after. 

28 Half a mile east of the village of Penfield on the bank of 
Irondequoit creek was a sepulchral mound once about eight feet 
high. There was a depression near showing whence the earth had 
come. — Squier, p. 57, pi. 8. no. 3 

29 A few rods southwest of Rush Junction were many skeletons 
of a large race. There were many pipes and other reHcs. An 
early cemetery half a mile southwest of this had hardly a perfect 
skeleton, and no relics. A similar spot is half a mile directly south 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



99 



of the last and a few rods from the river. These three are north 
of Honeoye creek, and were reported by Mr Clapp. An early 
cemetery was at the mouth of Honeoye creek. Early relics are 
scattered along the river thence to Avon and probably farther. 

30 The age of this site is somewhat confused. G. S. Conover 
thought it the early Keinthe, and placed it^ a mile southwest of 
Honeoye Falls. Gen. J. S. Clark gives it nearly the same location, 
but more to the north, and calls it the Totiacton of 1687. He identi- 
fies Sonnontouan and Totiacton, of missionary days, with a site in 
Mendon, one and one half miles north northwest of Honeoye Falls. 
He adds, " A second location, and probably the one occupied in 
1687 when destroyed by fire, was on the Ball farm, a mile west 
of Honeoye Falls village. Here, on a space of about 20 acres, 
a great abundance of relics have been found, of copper, glass and 
iron, brass crosses, medals and rings, and hundreds of iron axes 
bearing evidence of having passed through the fire." Raymond 
Dann, on whose father's farm the site is, says it is on a little 
stream flowing into the Honeoye creek near Sibleyville. The site 
is of about 20 acres, and he had explored about four acres of the 
cemetery. A local story was that this was a Totiacton built after 
1687. The writer has carefully examined Mr Dann's very fine col- 
lection of relics and feels certain the village could not have been 
built after De Nonville's invasion. This is the view of both 
Conover and Clark, though they differ in identifying the village. 
Many of the articles found passed out of use among the Mohawks 
and Onondagas before 1650, but others are of a later type. On 
the whole it seems reasonable to suppose it one of the villages 
destroyed by the French. A later examination by the writer showed 
two cemeteries and also some neighboring early camps. 

31 A cemetery about seven miles southeast of Bergen has some 
early relics. 

32 A cemetery in Churchville is by the West Shore railroad, and 
there are arrowheads toward the creek. 

33 All of the following were reported by E. P. Clapp. A camp 
west of the river, and 200 yards south of the bridge between Scotts- 
ville and Rush. Many flint implements. Many fine arrowheads 



lOO 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



have been found on the Warren farm, one and one half miles south 
of Scottsville. Some are serrated. 

34 Bony hill, in Wheatland, has its name from the human bones 
which covered it when the country was first settled. In digging 
the Valley canal in 1839-40, many bones were found, which seemed 
buried in trenches. They were very large. The hill was north 
of the Lehigh, and west of the W. N. Y. & Pa. railroad. 

35 Skeletons were found in a sand pit 150 feet north of the town 
line in Henrietta, and 200 feet from the river. A skull and kettle 
were plowed up 200 feet east of these. Some skeletons were also 
found on the line of the Erie railroad 200 feet north of the town line. 

36 A series of camps occurs on the upper waters of Red creek, 
two miles from West Henrietta. 

37 The following are in Rush. A fireplace was found two and a 
half feet underground in the river bank, three fourths of a mile north 
of the bridge between Scottsville and Rush. A skeleton was found 
in a gravel knoll a quarter of a mile north of Scottsville station. Mr 
Clapp says of this, " Found in a lying position, on right side, head 
to the south, hands and feet drawn to the chin. Facial angle of 
the lowest type; scarcely any forehead, retreating chin, protruding 
teeth. A fireplace was 30 feet from this, under 20 inches of un- 
disturbed soil." A large early village was 80 rods south of Scotts- 
ville station, but produced only flint implements and chips. 
Another early village was half a mile south of the last. A large 
village site and cemetery are just west of the Colt pond, one and one 
fourth miles south of Scottsville station. 

A cemetery two miles _ from the river and just south of the 
town line between Henrietta and Rush. 

Montgomery county. The Mohawks seem to have entered their 
historic valley late in the i6th century, having a few predecessors 
at intervals. At first, being refugees from Canada, they sought 
retired positions on tributaries of the river, drawing nearer to that 
as they acquired confidence and strength. Like all the Iroquois 
they moved often and a wide border land separated them from 
their enemies on the Hudson river. At one time they had a castle 
east of Schoharie creek but were driven from this in 1626 and 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



lOI 



found that stream on the east and the Mohawk on the north con- 
venient barriers against their foes. Arent Van Corlaer found them 
thus grouped within a space of about 14 miles when he visited 
them in 1634. A careful computation makes each of his miles 
average about two English miles, and his itinerary, based on this, 
is interesting. The first day he traveled 16 miles and lodged near 
Vyoge (Oiogue) a Mohawk word for at the river," mentioning 
it as a stream which ran past their castles. Next morning they 
went about two miles and crossed this river, following its course 
westerly for 20 miles farther. When morning came the river was 
recrossed and they were soon at Onekagoncka, the first castle of 
the Mohawks, a mile farther on or about 39 miles from Albany. 
They then went to Canowarode a mile farther. Senatsycrosy was 
passed at the end of another mile and another three miles brought 
them to the second castle Canagere, 44 miles from Albany. Two 
miles beyond this they forded a deep stream swollen by heavy rains. 
A mile beyond was the third castle Sohanidisse, 47 miles from 
Albany. A mile farther was Osguage, and another swollen stream 
even more dangerous. Cawaoge was at the end of the next mile. 
Two miles beyond was the fourth castle Tenotoge, about 51 miles 
from Albany and east of the present Canajoharie. In this space 
were four castles and four villages. 

That this estimate is approximately correct appears from the 
farther itinerary where the miles may have been less exact. They 
left the river, as was customary, and took the direct but more hilly 
trail to Oneida, then a little east of Munnsville on Oneida creek. 
The five days' journeys were respectively 14, 15, 15, 16 and 9 
English miles on this basis, or 69 miles, making a total dis- 
tance from Albany to Oneida of 120 miles. The N. Y. C. railroad 
distance to that stream is 122 miles. Others make different esti- 
mates, but the writer has carefully considered the matter and 
believes his statement correct. 

The return march is summarized but the party followed the same 
route, finding the cabin burned where they had hoped to lodge 
after leaving the lower castle. Four miles by guess, east of that 
castle, the savages pointed out a high mountain where they had 



102 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



had a fort nine years before. Presumably this would be seen to the 
southeast, looking across the river from somewhere near Amster- 
dam. This was east of Schoharie creek. By retiring to the other 
side of this and drawing their other villages ta the south side 
of the Mohawk they were defended by two large streams, which 
was a very great advantage. 

Both field work and history testify to these frequent changes. 
The castles and villages shifted from side to side of the valley. 
They were south of the Mohawk at this time and for many years 
later. In 1677 all were on the north side. When the Mahikan 
war was over they lived less compactly and spread up and down 
the river. No attempt therefore will now be made to follow these 
changes though occasional allusions will be made. 

Dominie Johannes Megapolensis (1642-70) said that the Turtle 
tribe had made a fort of palisades, and they call their castle As- 
serue. Those of the Bear are next to these, and their castle is 
called Banagiro (Kanagiro). The last (the Wolf) are a progeny 
of these and their castle is called Thenondiogo." In 1677 Went- 
worth Greenhalgh said, they were all on the north side of the river 
and their villages were called Cahaniaga, Ganagora, Canajorha 
and Tionondogue. The French knew these by several names. On 
Adrian Van der Donck's map (1656) three castles appear on the 
south side of the river. The first is Carenay, the second Canagero, 
the third tTonnontego. Above the latter and north of the river 
is the word Sehanatisse and above the first appears Ounjune or 
Assereawe. The maps of 1614 and 1616 place them north of the 
river but they were on both sides at an early day. 

1 A cemetery two and one half miles west of St Johnsville. 

2 A modern village and cemetery a mile northwest of Palatine 
Church on the Nellis farm. 

3 A recent cemetery two and one half miles northwest of Nellis- 
ton and north of the river on the Smith farm formerly Lipe's. 
Northeast were about 20 caches and 50 rods north a village of two 
acres with recent relics. This is east of Palatine Church. 

4 A fine and elevated village site east of Garoga creek over- 
looking Wagner's hollow. It is about five miles northwest of 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 103 

Canajoharie with an area of several acres and contains recent 
articles. 

5 A recent village site in Jonas Rice's woods two miles east of 
Stone Arabia. 

6 About six miles northeast of Palatine Bridge 40 or 50 large 
caches are closely grouped in England's woods. Lodge sites are 
near, with early and recent articles. 

7 Small recent village on the old Frey farm one and one half 
miles west of Palatine Bridge. 

8 Recent village on Dewandalied's farm two miles north of the 
same place. 

9 A curious cemetery fully described by S. L._ Frey in the 
American naturalist for 1879, P- 637-44. It was explored by him 
and A. G. Richmond in 1878. Copper and shell beads were 
found and several stone tubes. The graves were all lined with 
flat stones and in several graves large stones were placed above. 
This is a mile east of Palatine Bridge. Prehistoric camps on the 
river flats and ridge at Palatine Bridge and for two miles east. 

10 A small village two miles northeast of Palatine Bridge on 
the Sitterly farm. Coarse flints and rude pestles. 

11 A village at Schenck's gulf four miles east of Palatine Bridge 
and two miles from the river. Perhaps the Canagara of 1723. 

12 Another near Yost's station three miles east of last. 

13 A prehistoric site four miles north of Yost's. 

14 In 1667 Gandawague was the nearest Mohawk village to the 
Mahikans, sometimes called Mohegans, who attacked it in 1669. 
Gen. J. S. Clark placed it north of the Mohawk on a high plateau 
on the west bank of Cayadutta creek and north of the road to 
Stone Arabia. Relics are found. L. H. Morgan said that Gano- 
wauga was a small village north of the river at Fonda. 

15 There was a recent village at Tribeshill. 

16 P. M. Van Epps reported a cache! of 100 flints in a bed 
of ashes in Amsterdam. They were of the usual cache pattern 
and he knew of similar finds. This was near the east line of the 
town and one and one half miles north of the river. 

17 There was an early work in the town of Minden four miles 
south of Fort Plain on the Otstungo creek, a branch of the 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Otsquago. A rocky precipice bounds the stream and defends the 
fort on one side. There is a ravine on the other. About 700 feet 
from the point was a bank from side to side, about 240 feet long 
and slightly curving at the ends. The area was about six acres. 
Squier reported European articles but later explorers find none. 
His plan is given in fig. 73 but is there reduced. — Squier, p. 82, 83, 
pi. 12. The articles are fine and of the best Iroquois types. Few 
graves have been found. 

18 There is a small recent site a mile southwest of Fort Plain. 

19 Canajoharie, the middle castle in 1730, was on Prospect hill 
in Fort Plain and on the east side of Otsquago creek. There are 
many recent graves and relics. This was described in the survey 
of 1723 as the Cassel of Ta-re-gi-o-rus." There were one or two 
earlier Canajoharies. 

20 There are two sites in Happy hollow on Brown's farm two 
miles west of Canajoharie and on the south side of the river. They 
have small cemeteries, one old and one recent, with corresponding 
burial. Pottery with human figures occurs here as in several other 
places. 

21 A fishing hamlet on the south side a quarter of a mile above 
Canajoharie. Also a large village and cemetery on the hillside 
just west of Canajoharie, with recent articles. 

22 A recent cemetery on the Van Alstine farm just east of the 
east corporation line of Canajoharie. 

23 A small village at Sprakers on a hill south of the river. 
Gen. Clark thought this Theonondiogo, the western castle of 1642. 
This would correspond with the writer's estimate for 1634. 

24 A small village two miles southeast of Canajoharie. 

25 A recent village at Lasher's two miles east of Sprakers. 

26 A village site and cemetery at or near AuriesviUe where 
Gen. J. S. Clark locates the most easterly town of 1642, on the 
south side of the river and half a mile south of AuriesviUe. " The 
site is a quarter of a mile from the river on the farm of Victor A. 
Putnam 130 or 150 feet above the river." Here a shrine is a 
memorial of the death of Father Jogues. Recent rehcs are found. 
There was a recent village of a temporary character on the hill 
west of AuriesviUe. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK I05 

27 Tehondaloga, the lower Mohawk castle, was on the west side 
of Schoharie creek at its mouth. — Morgan, p. 416. There was a 
modern village at Fort Hunter and relics occur all the way to 
Auriesville, with some graves. 

28 Gen. Clark thought Andagoron, the Bear castle of 1642, 
was on the south side of the river half way between Sprakers 
and Auriesville or two miles west of Fultonville. Mr Frey how- 
ever placed it at Fultonville in 1666. 

29 On the north bank of the Mohawk at Amsterdam were paint- 
ings on the rocks mentioned by many writers. 

30 Four or five miles east of the first castle, a castle was pointed 
out on a hill on the south side of the river, where the Mohawks 
had lived in 1626. This was in 1635. This hill was east of the 
Schoharie creek and may be one on which is an angular earth- 
work described by W. Max Reid. Its character is doubtful. 

31 A cache of celts^ was reported by Isaac Swart north of 
the river and about two miles from the east line of the town of 
Amsterdam. 

32 A village was on the east side of Kauderback creek in Palatine 
and about 3 miles from the river. A quarry or deposit of flint 
chips was a mile south of this. 

33 A village near the west line of Alohawk was on the south 
side of Briggs' creek. Another was north of this in the forks of 
Briggs and Wemple creeks. A prehistoric village was on the west 
side of Wemple creek and farther north than the last. 

34 A village was on the north side of the river, opposite the west 
line of Glen. 

35 A village on the east side of Martin's creek was near the river. 
Another was two miles northwest of this. 

36 A village near Mill Point was west of Schoharie creek. These 
five sites were reported by G. W. Chapin, who gave more exact 
details of some others. 

Nassau county, i W. W. Tooker places a fort of the Marsapea- 
gues one and one half miles west of Amityville. Lodge sites extend 
westward to Bellmore. 



io6 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



2 An old village and a single grave were reported at Port Wash- 
ington in 1889. 

3 Corn fields on Oyster bay had been abandoned in 1650. There 
are large shell heaps near the shores. 

4 Judge Samuel Jones said that when that part of Long Island 
was first settled there were two Indian forts on Fort Neck near 
Oyster bay. The one on the south part was a square earthwork. 
The other was a palisade on the meadow\ — Squier, p. 94. One 
was stormed by the whites in 1653. Prime says this was built in 
1649, measured 30 by 50 yards. — Prime, p. 96 

5 The Rockaways lived in the south part of Hempstead and 
left large shell heaps. They had several villages but were prin- 
cipally at Near Rockaway. Some were at the head of Maspeth 
creek and others on Hog island in Rockaway bay. — Thompson, 
p. 67 

6 The Merikokes had a large settlement on Hicks neck and 
on other points between there and Merrick. — Thompson, p. 67 

7 Warlike implements have been found at Success pond, near 
Lakeville. — Mandeville, p. 94 

New York county. Alexander Chenoweth's discoveries about 
Inwood and Harlem excited interest in 1890, and he collected some 
good articles. L. W. Calver and J. B. James of New York have 
summarized these ^ and other sites now grouped under a few 
numbers. 

1 A large site of about 14 acres in Van Cortlandt park, west of 
the lake. The relics occurred mostly in bowl-shaped fireplaces two 
to three feet deep and wide. Shells were packed in these and four 
skeletons were found in them. Nine were buried elsewhere. Pot- 
tery, bone and stone articles were found. These were discovered 
in grading in 1890. A shell heap was on the topmost knoll south- 
east of the lake. 

2 Shell heap east of Fieldston road and north of W. 247th street. 
Another north of same street and west of Pascal avenue. 

3 Shell heap on the Hudson north of Riverdale station. 

4 Shell heap on the Hudson opposite W. 240th street. Others 
opposite W. 235th and 232d streets. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 107 

5 Chenoweth's Cold spring site near Harlem river with horn 
articles and pottery. Cave shelters near on south side. 

6 Wooded knoll with graves northeast of Inwood near Seaman 
avenue. 

Another of these occurs near Dyckman street, and various shell 
heaps are found on the west side of Harlem river near the former 
site of the Fordham foot bridge. 

There are shell heaps near Columbia university, below In- 
wood station, and at the mouth of Spuyten Duyvil creek. 
In the notes to Denton's New York, p. 26, it is said that 
the village of Warpoes was on Chatham square and that of 
Lapinikan at Greenwich. Excavations on Pearl street also reached 
old shell banks. In the Goede vroitw of Mana-ha-ta, p. 39 Mrs 
John K. Van Rensselaer speaks of a castle on a hill called Catie- 
muts overlooking a small lake near Canal street. The neighbor- 
hood was called Shell Point. 

Niagara county. This county was once occupied by the Atti- 
wandaronks or Neutral nation of Canada. Father de la Roche 
d'Allion visited them in 1626 and seems also to have been in New 
York. He was at Onontisaston and was visited by those of Oua- 
roronon living a day's journey from the Seneca border. — Le Clerq, p. 
268. There was a town near the Niagara called Onguiaahra. When 
the Jesuits visited them in 1640 the New York towns are referred 
to again. " On this side of the river (in Canada) and not on the 
other, as some map marks it, are the greater number of the towns 
of the Neutral nation. There are three or four beyond, arranged 
from east to west toward the nation of the Cat or the Erieehro- 
nons." — Jesuit relations, 1641, p. 71. This accounts for European 
relics toward Niagara river. Afterward it became Seneca territory. 

1 There was a small Seneca village near the mouth of Niagara 
river in 1718. — Doc. Hist. N. Y. 9:885. This was Oniagara but 
they frequented the river much earlier. Early relics occur. 

2 The rocky fort of Kienuka is on the Tuscarora reservation 
three and one half miles from Lewiston, on a spur of the mountain 
ridge. '*A burial ground and two elliptical mounds or barrows 
that have a diameter of 20 feet and an elevation of from four to 



io8 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



five feet. The sites of habitations are marked by remains of pot- 
tery, pipes and other evidences." — Turner. Hoi. p. 26. Schoolcraft 
gives a plan and description but it may refer to a mere rocky ledge 
with a village site. Gen. Lincoln gave an account of the two 
Tuscarora villages at that place in 1793. Land had been cleared 
and they found " a wall around it, the banks of which were visible 
at this time." Stone axes were obtained. — Mass. hist. 5:127. This 
may have been the work examined by Mr Reynolds on the north 
line of the reservation. Its area was one and one half acres and 
there was no wall on the north. A recent monumental stone heap 
was near it. — U. S. bur. of eth. p. 512 

3 A quarter of a mile west of this fort were 118 pits. — U. S. bur. 
of eth. p. 513 

4 Three ossuaries half a mile west of the fort, with 100 skeletons 
and three copper rings in one. This was 9 feet in diameter. — U. S. 
bur. of eth. p. 513 

5 Near Tonawanda creek and two miles east of Hoffman's sta- 
tion was a camp site. 

6 Several skeletons were exhumed at the Lewiston end of the 
electric road in April 1895. Pipes and arrowheads were found. 
Air Larkin mentioned two large burial mounds in this town. 

7 There are traces of Indian graves on Goat island. — French, 
P- 450 

8 A mound in the town of Wilson contained human bones, and 
was 10 or 12 feet high and 100 feet around. It was three quarters 
of a mile from the lake. — Macauley, 2:113 

9 A mound, fort and cemetery were on a ridge in Cambria, eight 
miles east of the reservation. Turner saw the mound opened in 
1823. Six acres were occupied, with a wall in front on the circular 
verge of the mountain. In the center was an ossuary four or 
five feet deep " filled with human bones, over which were slabs 
of sandstone. Hundreds of both sexes and all ages seem to have 
been thrown in promiscuously. Numerous barbs or arrow points 
were found among the bones and in the vicinity. . . Rude frag- 
ments of pottery, pieces of copper and iron instruments of rude work- 
manship have been plowed up within the area; also charred wood, 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK IO9 

corn and cobs." — Turner. Hoi. p. 27. Compare this with the ac- 
count of Huron burial in Jesuit relations and allied documents. 
Schoolcraft and Squier quote, this, the former adding that the pit 
was 24 feet square. 

10 Mr Reynolds examined a stone mound in 1889 on Mr Sharp's 
land a mile west of Lockport. — U. S. bur. of eth. p. 512 

11 Also a mound at Gasport. 

12 A circular mound was once on the upper end of Tonawanda 
island. Bones, arrowheads and beads were found. — Turner. Hoi. p. 
34. A larger mound once 15 feet high was opened by Squier in 
1848. Below was " a circle of stones perhaps 10 feet in diameter, 
within which were small heaps of bones each comprising three or 
four skeletons. The bones are of individuals of all ages and had evi- 
dently been deposited after the removal of the flesh. Traces of 
fire were to be discovered upon the stones. The skulls had been 
crushed by the superincumbent earth." There were bone and horn 
articles. — Squier, p. 97 : - • 

13 Open air workshop opposite Tonawanda island at the mouth 
of Tonawanda creek. About an acre strewn with flint. — Turner. 
Hoi. p. 34. Others occur on the river. 

14 Dr A. L. Benedict furnished the following without notes. 
On Cayuga island south of La Salle station Niagara Falls. 

15 Near the railroad and river a little northwest of North Tona- 
wanda. 

A ring fort was reported in the Pioneer history of the Holland 
purchase of western New York p. 29 at the head of a deep gorge 
a mile west of Lockport. On examination Mr Reynolds thought 
this natural. 

Oneida county. Very little of this county was occupied at first 
by the Oneidas whose homes were mostly in Madison county. 
Some later villages were in the western part. North of the Mohawk 
river are a few small villages and camps of earlier tribes. 

I There were Indian camps toward Oneida lake on Wood and 
Fish creeks and specially on the ridge where the Royal blockhouse 
stood. These were early. In August 1899, Dr Hinsdale made 
some explorations near Sylvan Beach and found a large workshop, 



no 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



and a fishing hamlet well provided with flat sinkers. An ordinary 
village site had early relics. A large site was found on the south 
side of Fish creek near the mouth, with a cemetery, and he reports 
another cemetery. 

2 Graves with European articles were found in 1891 near the 
shore of Oneida lake. A fort and burial place were two miles 
south of Oneida lake on Oneida creek of which the writer has 
often heard. Schoolcraft said that traces of the fort still existed. 
It was on the farm of James Sterling a little south of Oneida Valley, 
near the southeast angle of the lake. On the east side of the 
creek skeletons and recent relics occur. This may have been the 
village at the lake mentioned in Belletre's expedition. 

3 Indians lived in Annsville quite recently. At the forks of 
Fish creek hearths were exposed by the washing of the banks and 
large potsherds were found three feet under ground. Stone im- 
plements occur in the town. — Jones, p. 82. The Oneidas held their 
annual fishing feast here in the spring, using hurdles. — Jones, p. 71 

4 W. S. Valiant reported many camps and relics as well as 
burial places in and about Rome. The finer relics do not appear, 
as the tide of early travel did not set that way. Some banks near 
Rome are of doubtful origin. 

5 Burial place of whites and Indians west of Fort Bull and south 
of the canal. 

6 Camps on Canada, Alud and Whittle's creeks and on Brandy 
brook near Rome. Small sites are frequent and were explored by 
Mr Valiant. 

7 An early village site on Steuben creek, six miles northeast of 
Holland Patent, near the mouth of the creek. The sites in this 
prehistoric group average about an acre and were reported by 
H. A. Pride of Holland Patent. 

8 One west of Steuben and north of the creek. 

9 One at Trenton village four miles east of Holland Patent and 
on Cincinnatus creek. 

10 A village east of Holland Patent and quite near it on the south 
side of the creek. 

1 1 A village west of South Trenton. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



III 



12 One near Stittville on the east side of the creek and half way 
between the next and Holland Patent. 

13 Two small hamlets west of the Nine Mile creek and near its 
mouth in Marcy. One was quite near the creek, the other farther 
west and opposite the Oriskany monument. There are others in 
this town not definitely located. 

14 In enlarging the canal in Oriskany in 1849, more skele- 
tons were found in logs hollowed out by burning. They had 
medals and ornaments. One medal of George i was dated in 1731. 
The others were dated from 1731 to 1735. In two instances the 
heads of three or four skeletons were placed together and the bodies 
radiated from these. There are ear and nose ornaments of red 
slate and some pipes. — Jones, p. 829 

15 A recent cemetery on the north side of the Mohawk opposite 
the mouth of Oriskany creek. The tradition is that the Indians 
who fell at Oriskany were buried there. The relics Mr Pride found 
there however were all early. 

16 On the north bank of the Mohawk, in Marcy and half a mile 
east of Oriskany, a spot on the table-land was called the castle. On 
this was a second growth of timber in 1796. Iron axes were found 
there and from 20 to 30 deep caches. A low mound was 18 inches 
high and from 8 to 10 feet across. — Jones, p. 244 

17 A line of lodge sites extends all through Marcy to Deerfield 
on the terrace north of the river. All but one are early. One is 
midway and none have pottery. Articles rude. 

18 Three skeletons were exhumed near Hamilton college. The 
middle one lay in an opposite direction to the others and had a 
metallic cross on the breast. — Jones, p. 829 

19 After the revolution the Oneidas left Oriskany and part came 
to the Mile square in Augusta, which had long before been occupied 
by them. — Jones, p. 96 

20 Near Oriskany creek on both sides in Marshall and Kirkland 
lived 400 Brotherton I*ndians mostly near Deansville. — Jones, p. 247 

21 Hatch's mound, west of Rome and near Green's Corners, is 
reputedly of Indian origin but this is more than doubtful. A small 
mound and excavation near may be artificial. 



112 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



22 There was a recent fort on Cranston's farm at Oneida castle 
east of the creek, probably the one built by Johnson in 1756. St 
Peter's Indian church was there also before the Oneidas went to 
Green Bay. The cemetery west of the station was cut into by the 
West Shore railroad. 

23 ''At the orchard the first Methodist mission house was built. 
The orchard is an old and very large one situated in the southwest 
corner of Vernon. It was set out by the Indians long before the 
arrival of the first white settlers, it being apparently an old orchard 
in 1794." The noted Orchard party had its name from this. — 
Hammond, p. 114 

24 Dr Hinsdale reported a large site less than a mile west of the 
village of North Bay, with stone relics. 

25 He found a large straggling site near the mouth of Oneida 
creek, and another large village half a mile from the mouth, with 
early articles of bone, clay and stone. Net sinkers are common 
near the mouth of the creek. 

Onondaga county. This county was the historic center of the 
powerful Iroquois league and there the great council fire burned, 
though not always in the same place. For nearly or quite a cen- 
tury the Onondaga towns were on the hills bordering the valley of 
Limestone creek. About 1690 or a little earlier they shifted to the 
east bank of the Butternut creek, a mile south of Jamesville. The 
next half century found them in the Onondaga valley east of the 
creek, but by 1750 nearly all were on the west side. Their present 
location is quite recent. While part of this nation seem to have 
been immigrants but little over three centuries since, it is probable 
that they united with some of the same family who had preceded 
them, settling near Seneca river. Another group of this family was 
in Elbridge but may not have united with them, their natural as- 
sociations being farther west. 

Preceding the Onondagas and their kindred, and mainly in the 
northern towns, were those visitors who left so many interesting 
relics on the Seneca and Oneida rivers and the adjacent lakes and 
streams. These came from many places, but when, we can not 
tell. In this field the writer has worked for many years with the 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK II3 

heariy aid of conscientious collectors, and perhaps no part of New 
York has been given more thorough and systematic study, though 
a vast amount yet remains to be done. Its navigable rivers and 
abundant fishing places drew many here at an early day, while 
others found safety in its hills. 

1 Camps with the usual early relics in Lysander, lot 42, on the 
west side of the Oswego river at Phoenix. There was also a 
fishing village there in 1654 at which Father Le Moyne stopped. 

2 Two camps or more on the land of D. Porter and A. Haikes, 
lot 71, on the west bank of the Seneca river. Early relics and a 
little pottery. At this rift the first EngHsh military road crossed 
the river. 

3 A hamlet on a bold hill on A. Start's farm, lot 70 Lysander. 
Arrowheads and pottery. 

4 Two hamlets on and by the Adams farm on the west side of 
the Seneca river and another north of the mouth of the state ditch, 
lot 96. Flint arrowheads and rude stone implements and but little 
pottery. 

5 A village on the Hickey farm, lot 75 with fine stone inplements 
but no pottery. It is a little back of the river. Just northeast of 
this on sandy land are fireplaces with a few arrowheads, drills and 
coarse pottery. A small hamlet lies farther west by the Voorhees 
brook on lot 74, and near this a cache of flints was found. 

6 The above camp on sandy land is on lot 75, formerly U. M. 
Kelly's land. Just below it is a stone eelweir with three bays of 
unequal length reaching up the river as it tended toward the north 
shore. It was built of field stone and was about 1200 feet long. 
It reaches the surface now only in very low water. Part of another 
is below the Jack's reef bridge, and others are found elsewhere, 
as the Onondagas built many within historic times. 

7 Two hamlets of considerable size on J. Adsit's land, lot 76 
close to the river and on both sides of a brook. They seem dis- 
tinct and have the usual relics but no pottery. There are , several 
camps between this and the last. 

8 Apparently a stockade town on the hilltop back of what was 
Charles Emerick's house and high above the river road on lot 78 



114 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



north of the Seneca river. All the usual relics and abundant pot- 
tery but no drills or scrapers, which are absent from all Iroquois 
forts. A fine spring on the terrace below. Shells of Unio com- 
planatus abound. A bone fishhook was found. • 

9 Two hamlets and a cemetery on G. A. Bigelow's land on the 
hill in the north part of Baldwinsville. In the hamlets were pipes, 
arrowheads and celts. There were no relics with the skeletons 
which lay horizontally, with the knees drawn up. There were 
camps all through the present village. 

10 Extensive hamlet on the south side of Float bridge, lot 86 
on the east bank of the river. A great deal of pottery with other 
relics but no scrapers or drills. 

11 A camp south of the railroad bridge and east of the river 
on lot 87 with early relics and pottery. On the opposite bank were 
fireplaces with pottery. There was another small hamlet at the 
Red rock rift, lot 93 half a mile below. 

12 A circular earthwork on lot 89 of about three acres is now 
obliterated. It was about 360 feet in diameter and the road passes 
through the center. Pottery is abundant with the usual Iroquoian 
articles. It is about three miles from Baldwinsville and one and 
one half miles from the river on either side, but flat sinkers are 
found, suggesting a question of use. Clark reported a ditch around 
it four feet deep with a bank on each side of this, and a gateway. 
A man who cleared the land told the writer that there were merely 
two broad depressions. It is on level land and there is a small 
site half a mile away. 

13 Two or three hamlets near th-e north end of Cold Spring 
bridge, lot 100 on both sides of the road with abundant relics and 
with pottery on the east side. 

14 Three hamlets on the south shore of Cross lake, on lots 31, 
32 and 33 Elbridge. Stone relics but no pottery. 

15 Three hamlets and scattered lodges on lot 34 mostly on the 
Elliott farm. The central one was long occupied and yielded many 
fine relics but scarcely any pottery. 

16 There was a camp on the river just west of Carpenter's brook 
and several east on lot 35. One hamlet was at the mouth of the 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK II5 

brook and two farther east on the Bidwell farm. The cemetery 
for the latter place was south of the road with both early and recent 
relics. Clark . says, "At Jack's reef when the whites first settled 
this town the Onondagas had a large settlement with an extensive 
clearing and a valuable orchard." — Clark, 2 1328. No early travelers 
mention this. 

17 Northeast of these on the Somes farm, lot 16 Van Buren 
is a hill where relics are said to have been abundant and where 
an old settler of good judgment remembered a palisade line. The 
writer found no traces of occupation on the hill but there were 
small camps toward the river. 

18 Besides scattered sites farther down the Seneca river there 
was a hamlet on lot 4 and west of Dead creek. It was an early 
site but not long occupied. 

19 Two hamlets were east of Dead creek on the river bank. 
These were on the Wright farm, lots 4 and 5 and were quite dif- 
ferent in character^ the eastern one having rude relics. The west- 
ern one probably represented several camps. 

20 An extensive stockade was on the Crego farm, lot 6 near the 
south bank of the river. The area is about 400 by 500 feet and the 
usual reHcs are found, among the rest the sharp barb of la bone 
fishhook and a flat Unio bead. Another stockade was directly 
across the river. 

21 Two hamlets and several camps were on the river bank on 
the west Hne of Baldwinsville, town lot 7. One camp was recent. 
Others occur at intervals along the river as far as the island. These 
are mostly early. 

22 On the south side in Baldwinsville a village and cemetery were 
a little southeast of the village cemetery. Relics are found with 
the skeletons. Another village was mostly on the east side of 
Syracuse street. A few lodges and graves were on the west side. 
All these were on land sloping to Crooked brook. A few rods 
southeast was a cemetery in sand loam out of which the writer 
saw 20 skeletons taken at one time. No special order was observed 
in burial but the knees were generally drawn up. Under almost 
every head was a small pebble, the loam being free of stones. In 



ii6 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



laying pipe a few rods southeast of the bridge in 1895 an extended 
but small skeleton was found between two layers of cobblestones. 
No articles were in the grave. 

23 There was a circular stockade on L. Tallmage's farm, lot 13, 
and one and one half miles south of Baldwinsville, south of a small 
stream and west of the road to Warner. A plan is given in fig. 
75. It occupied a low broad hill, commanded by a higher one 
across the stream. It had a gate on the north side, and the 
diameter was about 300 feet. The postholes were a step apart. 

24 A small hamlet was on Mrs C. Lamerson's farm, lot 41. 
Arrowheads, etc. are found. 

25 On lot 17 there are lodge sites near the river. 

26 There are also camps on the farms of Messrs Spore and Pel- 
ton on lot 3 near the river. 

27 Others occur on H. B. Odell's farm on lot 2 and all along 
the valley of Dead creek implements are found. 

28 There are lodges near the river on Lester's and Tallmage's 
farms, lot 14. 

29 In E. L. Tallmage's woods, lot 21 were two large stone heaps 
covering human bones. 

30 Two mounds and two or more hamlets were near the Onon- 
daga outlet in Geddes. One hamlet now lies east of the present 
outlet. One is on the top of the hill west of this and on the south 
side of the road. Camps lie westward of this along the bluff. 
The relics are all early. One burial mound in the woods at Long 
Branch w^as 12 feet long and 3 feet high when examined by the 
writer, but was once larger. Six skeletons and some early relics 
were afterward taken out. This mound was oblong but the other 
was circular and much farther southeast at the base of the sandy 
bluff. In it were skeletons and stone relics. Fig. 89 shows the 
position of these mounds west of the outlet. 

* 

31 There were several camps about Pleasant beach near the west 
shore of Onondaga lake, yielding fine relics and extending from 
the outlet nearly to Nine Mile creek. No Iroquois traces are found 
on the west side of Onondaga lake and but few on the east. 

32 The Kaneenda site of 1700 is the only recent site near Onon- 
daga lake except about the old French fort south of Liverpool. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK II7 

Kaneenda was on the creek and south of the lake, within the city 
limits. An early site may be placed with this on an elevated spot 
in the marsh west of the creek where Dr Hinsdale has discovered 
much of interest. There is also a small early site with rude imple- 
ments, in the third ward of Syracuse near the creek. Besides these 
there was a recent village as well as a cemetery not far from the 
present high school. 

33 There were early and late camps at Brewerton on both sides 
of the river and many stone plummets and bone harpoons are 
found. Burial places are also found on both sides, the one on the 
south side being in the present cemetery. Not far south some 
hamlets were mentioned by early missionaries. 

34 There were small camps on lots 32 and 33, Cicero about South 
Bay on Oneida lake, and another farther east on' the Eastwood 
farm lot 46. 

35 A little west of Bridgeport was a hamlet on lot 73. 

36 Another was on the lake shore, lot 47 and east of the present 
cemetery, and another on the same lot near Ghittenango creek. 

It may be added that there are other small camps, as on the 
islands in Cicero swamp and on Frenchman's and Dunham's islands 
in Oneida lake. 

37 There was a cemetery with some lodge sites on the Childs 
farm, lot 22, Clay. Earthen vessels were found with the skeletons 
near the Seneca river. 

38 Cemetery and hamlet on lot 16, Clay east of Schroeppel's 
bridge on a bluff south of the river. Early and fine relics. Camps 
also on the north side. 

39 Hamlet on the Walters farm, lot 23 and north side of the 
road. Many fireplaces but rude articles. 

40 Another on lot 74 has afiforded fine relics. There are other 
scattered camps of little note. 

41 South of the canal in Elbridge was a group of notable earth- 
works now obliterated, which seem to belong to the Cayuga group. 
In early notes these are referred to Camillus but the division of 
the town placed all in the present town of Elbridge. The one on 
Fort hill, lot 70, Elbridge was first mentioned by Rev. Thomas 



ii8 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Robbins in 1802, in his recently printed journal. He described 
it. as nearly four square, the corners a little rounded, facing 
very nearly the cardinal points. It is a little more than 20 rods 
from north to south and from east to west a little less." He differs 
from others in describing two gates on the west side with one on 
the east, but was probably correct. He said, " On the west side 
are evident marks of violence, places in the wall being thrown 
down into the ditch." 

De Witt Clinton described it as " elliptical in shape " and said 
that it covered three acres. — Sqider, p. 32. Mr Clark made it a 
square of four and one half acres. He adds that on the south 
side were numerous holes about 2 feet deep and 6 feet apart as 
if an intrenchment or circumvallation had been commenced and 
not finished." In his plan these appear in a straight line. They 
were probably caches. — Clark, 2:2,26. The writer examined the 
spot with ]\Ir Hunter, who had owned the place since 1840, and 
part of the results appear in fig. 64. The work was on a broad 
elliptic hill and extended some distance down the sides. The long 
axis was from north to south and the area about two and one haif 
acres. Relics much as usual with fresh water shells. It was an 
earthwork. 

There proves to be an accoimt of the forts on lots 70 and 81, 
Elbridge, in a journal kept by Lieut. Col. William Stevens, who 
visited them in October 1791. In Onondaga's centennial, p. 685, 
these are incorrectly located on lot 84. The description is good, 
but has few details regarding the smaller work. The timber seemed 
a second growth in and around the fort. The work on lot 70 was 
elliptic,. the longest diameter being north and south, inclosing about 
tw^o and three fourths acres. There was a gate in the east as well as 
the west bank. " The butments on each side are plain to be seen." 
In both cases the trees on the wall were larger than the others^ but 
this was due to the more rapid growth in made soil. 

42 The writer also gives his own plan of the small fort on lot 
81, half a mile southeast of the last, and a mile west of Elbridge 
village on the old Squire Munro farm. Fig. 62 represents this. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK II9 

Mr Clinton described this as half as large as the last and of the 
same form. Unio shells are also found here. — Squier, p. 32 

Mr Clark said the bank and ditch could easily be traced in 1793 
and that the area was one and one half acres. It seems less than 
this. He said there was a gateway on the west side about 12 feet 
wide. His figure makes this wall slightly convex and all the others 
straight. — Clark, 2:2)2^. There is an abrupt descent on the west 
side into a deep ravine and on the south there is a quick slope to 
the Munro house. The east and north walls were on level land. 

43 Mr Clark also described a fort on lot 73 a Httle east of El- 
bridge village. " On the site of Mr Caleb Brown's house and 
garden, including a portion of the highway, was an ancient circular 
fort, containing a little over an acre of ground, within which were 
evidences of a blacksmith shop," and many common relics. — Clark, 
2:7,2^. All Elbridge forts, however, were prehistoric. 

44 The same writer says, " On lot 84, on the farm now owned 
by Caleb Brown, esq., (1849) about 40 rods south of the road was 
a circular fort which covered over three acres of ground." There 
was a wide gate on the west and a smaller one on the northeast 
side. A cache was mistaken for a well and near " the western 
gateway were found several pieces of timber, having the marks of 
iron tools upon them." Pottery and shells were abundant. Mr 
Clark's plan appears in fig. 65. 

45 He also described an open village on lot 83 south of Elbridge 
village where he said hundreds of grooved stone axes had been 
found, and numerous arrowheads as well as a stone for sharpening 
tools. — Clark, 2:324. Grooved axes are so rare in New York that 
the writer made special inquiries and found that this was an error. 
None are known there. 

46 Two or three camps occur on lot 62, Salina near the north- 
east angle of Onondaga lake and scattered lodges toward the out- 
let. The spot shows no permanent occupation and relics vary 
greatly in character. 

47 Farther south there are camps and hamlets toward the north 
line of Liverpool and east of the lake and on both sides of the 



120 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



stream on L. Keith's farm. Relics of an early character occur at 
intervals all along this shore. 

48 The French fort and mission of 1656 were on lot 106 north 
of the railroad bridge in Salina. Early and recent relics are found 
there. The plan of the fort in Clark's Onondaga, however, is of 
that erected by Frontenac in 1696. The plan was made by Mr 
Geddes in 1797. Clark erroneously said that some of the pickets 
remained in 1794, adding that the work embraced half an acre. 
Rev. J. W. Adams said that traces of this fort could still be seen 
in 1834, and that Dr Holbrook, a settler of 1795, told him that there 
was a picket of four acres, with a fort of one, having a blockhouse 
in the northeast corner, and a bastion at one angle. It is probable 
all these accounts are somewhat confused with the fort of 1756, 
built at Onondaga Valley by Sir William Johnson. Frontenac's 
fort seems to have been built on the old mission site. Around the 
latter some Onondagas lived. 

49 Early relics have been found all along the line of salt vats on 
the blufif. Clark reported a large cemetery at Green point but 
gave no details. It was at the base of the blufif. 

50 North of the marsh and half a mile east of the lake is a 
recent camp or hamlet. 

51 There were no villages in Skaneateles but small camps and 
occasional relics appear, some being of early types. One camp 
was on the farm of Henry Moses, lot 20. 

52 Relics were frequent on R. Curtis's farm, lot 22. 

53 There was quite a camp on the east side of a stream and 
south of the direct road to Marcellus on lot 29. Early relics. A 
few articles have been found near Skaneateles village and Mandana. 

54 20 skeletons were taken out of a gravel bed in 1878 on lot 
42, De Witt now East Syracuse. Early relics were found. 

55 The Deep Spring of early note is on the coun.ty line east of 
Fayetteville. Tradition places a stockade there but there are no 
traces of permanent occupation. Arrowheads and recent relics 
were once frequent. 

56 A hamlet on the Mason farm, lot 68 Spafford was about a 
mile east of Five Mile point on Skaneateles lake. The relics there 
and near by are early. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



121 



57 A few years since some graves were opened on lot 72, Otisco 
which contained several long stone tubes. This was near Amber 
east of Otisco lake, and several caches of flint pieces have been 
found in that vicinity. Arrowheads occur all along Nine Mile creek 
to Onondaga lake. 

58 A Httle north of Onondaga Hill village there was a large 
cemetery with hundreds of graves. — Clark, 2:136 

59 Half a mile south of Onondaga Valley village, on Webster's 
mile square and on the first terrace west of Onondaga creek, was 
the stockade built for the Onondagas by Sir William Johnson in 
1756. It was 150 feet square with blockhouses on two corners. 
It was burned in 1779 t>ut traces were found by the first settlers. 
The stone graded way to the creek remains. 

60 A village was burned a mile farther south and another beyond 
this. 

61 There are several burial places on the east side of the creek, 
where the Onondagas lived from about 1720 to 1750. The relics 
are mostly recent of course. 

62 Many early articles occur near the old arsenal on the east 
side of the valley, lot 121 Onondaga. 

63 A small site on the Henderson farm, lot 161. This was an 
early hamlet having pottery and arrowheads. Lodges were farther 
south. 

64 Council house and village on the present reservation. Some 
relics appear along Onondaga creek and in South Onondaga but 
no villages. 

65 Near the east line of the reservation and on lot 13, La Fayette 
was a recent village with an orchard. This was visited by John 
Bartram in 1743 when it had 10 lodges. The graves were very 
regularly arranged. — Clark, 2:270 

66 There was a cemetery west of Butternut creek and about a 
mile south of Jamesville in the same town. Recent relics. 

67 The stockade burned at Frontenac's invasion was on the Wat- 
kins farm a mile south of Jamesville and east of the reservoir. 
This was on lot 3, La Fayette, and the change in the town has 
occasioned much confusion. Squier quoted an account from the 



122 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



New York magazine for 1792 and was led to place it in Cayuga 
county. It has been described as two places, one in Pompey 
and the other in La Fayette. According to the French it was a 
triple stockade built under English supervision. Clark's plan 
which appears in fig. 63 indicates an earthwork, almost rectangular 
surrounded by an elliptic double stockade intersected by a cross 
line at the short axis. At the white settlement the lines were 
distinct. At the northwest corner was a bastion and there were 
several heaps of refuse. A curving ditch 40 rods north was a puz- 
zhng feature. There were caches and abundant recent relics. 
Frontenac described the fort as large and strong. The town ap- 
pears on Romer's map of 1700 on the east side of Kiechioiahte 
creek. 

68 A recent site on the Gates farm, lot 5 Pompey is known as 
Bloody hill. It is two and one half miles southeast of Jamesville, 
and is largely a cemetery. 

69 A large early village on a hill on J. Christopher's farm, lot 6, 
a mile east by south of the last. Iroquois relics. 

70 A smaller early village on the Reed farm half a mile north- 
west of Watervale on lot 19. 

71 Recent and early cemeteries on the Sedgwick farm, lot 27, 
two miles northwesterly from Pompey Hill. Mostly recent relics. 

72 Recent cemeteries on lots 28 and 29 a mile west of Water- 
vale. 

73 Cemeteries on Luke Fitch's farm near the road to Watervale 
and on adjoining land on lot 19. There was also a recent village 
site here a little farther north. This seems the village mentioned 
by Greenhalgh in 1677. 

74 From a recent site on the Hibbard farm, lot 6 great quanti- 
ties of iron and other articles were taken. Circular elevations sup- 
posed to be for lodges were reported regularly arranged in rows. 
Clark says also that On the late Dr Western's farm could be 
distinctly traced the remains of a small fortification with a burying 
place. . . Not far from this last, on the farm of the late John 
Clapp at an early day were plainly traceable the lines of an earthen 
fortification." All relics were recent. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



123 



75 Indian hill is on lot 9 north of the road and was described 
by Clark as the farm of Isaac P. Jobs. The French who came 
there in 1654 and in following years speak of the palisade and gates. 
In 1677 Greenhalgh said it had no defence. Clark said that early 
settlers remembered distinctly an earthwork there with walls four 
or five feet high, which had one gateway and was circular with a 
diameter of from 300 to 350 feet. The writer traced the general 
site under favorable circumstances and made the village an ellipse 
about 1050 feet long by 450 feet wide. It is two miles south of 
Manlius village occupying the full width of the hill. The large 
cemetery is farther north and on the edge of the east ravine. 
Recent reHcs. There are many memorials of the French missions 
and a boulder remains on which the Onondagas sharpened their 
implements. 

76 Clinton said that there was a cemetery of three or four acres 
a mile eastward. This was on the Scoville farm, lot 11. 

77 Indian fort is in Pompey, on lot 23, not lot 33 as usually 
stated. A bank and ditch crossed it, running in a southeast line 
according to Clark, but really southwest. This was 300 feet long 
and there were lodges on both sides. It has always been called 
a recent site but the writer found no evidence of this fact and defers 
to others. The large grooved boulder has been removed. 

78 There was a cemetery near Hill's, lot 33. South of this, but 
in Madison county, was the stockade already described, but which 
was an Onondaga town. 

79 A stockade was on the Indian knolls, on the Lawrence farm, 
lot 68, a mile south of Pompey Center, east of the creek. In- 
dian and European articles are found but no French. It was re- 
ported at an early day as an oblong stockade of two acres. It is 
somewhat triangular as represented in fig. 77 and is about 675 
feet long with a width of 360 at the broad end to the south. No 
council wampum appears and but few shell beads. It may be dated 
about 1640. 

80 East of this and of the road is Indian spring on a small stream. 
On either side of this stream were the two grooved boulders now 



124 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



in the state collection. Farther east on the hillside was a scattered 
early site with graves. 

81 !\Ir Clark mentioned the Sheldon site on lot 69 but only 
said it resembled other forts. It occupies the most commanding 
situation of any in the county, and is on a high and steep bluff 
south of the Hollow road and of a stream flowing into East Lime- 
stone creek. The bluff is nearly or quite 300 feet high, precipitous 
on the north side with an abrupt slope on the east and south. 
There is a depression on the west. The summit is a plateau of 
about 450 feet from north to south with a width of 350 feet 
at the north end and of 230 feet at the south. It was occupied 
for some years and recent articles are found. There is higher land 
beyond the western depression. The probable date is about 1630. 
Fig. 87 shows this site, the town covering the whole plateau. 

82 A maile south of Delphi was a stockade between two ravines 
on H. Chase's land, lot 99 with a cemetery on the south just ever 
the Fabius line. Clark located it on lot 100 which it almost reaches. 
His plan is too large and broad; a better one is given in fig. 74. 
Most of the fort is now obliterated, but it was long and narrow, 
about 250 by 750 feet. ]\Iost of the lodges were near the north 
end. The two grooved boulders in the southeast corner have 
been removed. Postholes yet remain in a shallow trench, averag- 
ing about two feet from center to center, half the distance stated 
by Clark. He said that bodies were buried here one row with 
their heads to the west and the next row with their heads to the 
east." Another odd statement of early settlers was that the pali- 
sades were set in the bottom of a ditch which was in some places 
6 feet deep." Recent articles are found. 

83 On the south line of Pompey, lot 98, extending into lot 
8, Fabius was a circular stockade on a hill of which fig. 76 is a plan. 
Xearly a quarter of the fort is still in woodland and it had a 
diameter of about 225 feet. Some European articles are found 
but it was an early village located two and one half miles south- 
west of Delphi. 

84 About a mile northwest of the last, on lot 97, west of Car- 
penter's pond was a cemetery with brass kettles. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 1 25 

Many small sites have been omitted, others are not distinctly- 
known at present. Clinton said there were 80 cemeteries in Pom- 
pey. Clark was much more moderate saying, " These places of 
defence and burial were very numerous in the township of Pompey. 
There are not less than 15 which have been pointed out to us and 
which we have visited. They are scattered through several of the 
neighboring towns." Nearly all of these are of the historic period, 
Pompey being the early home of the Onondagas till after 1700. 
Most of the sites in this county were described by the writer in Onon- 
daga's centennial. 

Ontario county. When first known the Senecas lived entirely 
in what is now known as Ontario county and in a small part of 
Monroe county^ occupying several villages and having two con- 
spicuous divisions. Tradition points to Yates county for their 
origin and it is probable that forts in that direction may have been 
occupied by part of the nation. 

One of the most important local maps yet issued is that prepared 
by Gen. J. S. Clark, whose painstaking work is well known. It 
will be found in the Early chapters of Seneca history, by Rev. Charles 
Hawley, D. D. It gives the Seneca castles and mission sites from 
1650 to 1750, and may be briefly summarized. In Mendon are 
placed Sonnontouan of 1669, and southwest of this Totiacton of 
1687, both near the west line of the town. In Avon is Duy-do-o-sot 
on the east Hne, and Gah-nyuh-sas on the south. Gandachioragou 
is at Lima, and tw^o villages appear in the northwest corner of the 
town. Another is toward the south line. Two contiguous villages 
are near the north line of Livonia. The village in West Bloomfield 
is southwest of the present village, and in thus locating it at first 
the writer followed Clark. South of Victor village is Gandagaro 
of 1687, ^^cl just west of it the small fort of the same year. Gan- 
dougarae of 1657 is on the north hne of East Bloomfield, and 
another village is in the center of the town. Honeoye of 1779 
is at the foot of that lake, and in the north part of Bristol are the 
burning springs visited by La Salle in 1669. Kanandaigua of 1779 
is southwest of the present village. Another is northeast of this, 
another on the west line of the town, and a fourth near the north 
line. Onahee of 1700 is near the west line of Hopewell, with 



126 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



another village a little farther north. West of Geneva is the Kana- 
desaga of 1779, with two villages northwest of this. Ganechstage 
of 1720 is south of Kanadesaga, and to the southwest of this is 
the Ganechstage of 1760. Gothseunquean of 1779 is on the west 
bank of Seneca lake. 

1 Irregular work on Boughton hill a mile south of the village 
of Mctor, which was destroyed in 1687 by De Xonville. The small 
fort of that year was on Fort hill over a mile west. Squier's plan 
is given in fig. 78, showing a work nearly 1500 feet long with 
an area of 20 acres. This was Canagora, the St Jacques of the 
missionaries. Greenhalgh visited it in 1677 and said it was much 
like Onondaga. The village site is on R. B. ^loore's farm, and 
there is a cemetery less than a mile south of this on the farm of 
George Ketchum, which has European articles. Turner also men- 
tions articles at Mctor Flats. 

2 Fort hill a mile west of Boughton accurately corresponds with 
De Xonville's account of the picket fort at the top of a little 
mountain scarped on all sides." 

3 Canaenda was also called Gandougarae or St ^Michael and 
was a village of adopted Hurons. Hon. George S. Conover said 
that it is usually located in East Bloomfield, three and one half 
miles from Boughton hill near ]\Iud creek, but thought it needed 
farther investigation. He thought the village was moved into the 
town of Seneca after 1687 and placed on Burrell creek about two 
miles southeast of White springs. W. L. Hildburgh had European 
relics from the former place. Greenhalgh placed Canaenda four 
miles south of Boughton hiU. 

4 There was a burial place on lot 98, iManchester. 

5 Rev. J. Sanborn explored a recent burial mound at Clifton 
Springs in 1889. 

Ir^-ing W. Coates reports an early village site just south of Clif- 
ton Springs, nearly a mile south of the Canandaigua outlet. It 
occupied a little over two acres^ with fireplaces very_ numerous and 
close together. It seems to have been long inhabited and was of 
early date. There are fragments of decorated pottery^ fine celts 
and arrowheads. Articles of bone have been found, but none of 
sheh. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



127 



There ^ is an early village reported by Mr Coates, which is one 
and a half miles west of the one at Clifton Springs. The reUcs are 
similar, excepting that no bone articles have been found. It was a 
small village, but the few fireplaces are large and deep. The site is 
a mile south of the Canandaigua outlet, a quarter of a mile west 
of Fall brook. 

6 On his map of the Seneca country Gen. J. S. Clark placed an 
Indian village almost in the center of the town of East Bloomfield. 
Mr Hildburgh reported a cemetery there. A village site and ceme- 
tery are on Mud creek, east northeast of East Bloomfield village, 
with European articles. A similar site a mile west of this, is near 
the bank of a small creek. 

7 Gen. Clark placed another village near the north line of the 
town of Canandaigua. 

8 He also locates another just south of the village of West Bloom- 
field. This was east of Honeoye creek and had two cemeteries 
early and recent. Both long and discoid shell beads were found. 
This may be the one reported a little west of West Bloomfield, 
which should be placed farther north on the map. It is on the road 
from West Bloomfield to Lima, and the cemetery is on the east 
bank of Honeoye creek. The village was on a steep hillside. 

9 N. W. Randall reported a village eight miles south of 
Victor and as much westerly from Canandaigua, a little east of Mud 
creek. It seems the site placed by Gen. J. S. Clark near the town 
line. The village was recent but there was a prehistoric cemetery 
half a mile away. Clark located the Gandougarae of 1657 near the 
northeast corner of East Bloomfield. This seems the village men- 
tioned by Turner with European relics. There are several ceme- 
teries with early relics in the vicinity. 

10 A small cemetery was three miles south of Canandaigua, 
west of the lake. 

11 Honeoye, at the foot of Honeoye lake half a mile east of the 
outlet and south of Mill creek, was burned in 1779. — Sullivan, p. 
130. There were recent articles on Phelps's fiat near the old Indian 
castle at the foot of the lake. — Turner. P. & G. p. 199, 203. Clark 
placed the village on his map west of the outlet. The name of 
Honeoye may have come from Onaghee. 



128 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



12 Randall reported a small cemetery three miles west of Canan- 
daigua on a flattened ridge. 

13 Macauley quoted a reference to three old forts near Canan- 
daigua. — Macauley, 2:113. A mile east of Canandaigua was an 
oval work on a hillside overlooking the lake, with one gateway and 
half the wall remaining. The turnpike road from Canandaigua to 
Geneva passed through it. An early cemetery also. — Sqiiier, p. 55, 
pi. 6, no. 2. This appears in fig. 66. Schoolcraft placed it on Fort 
hill a mile north of Canandaigua and 1000 feet around. — School- 
craft. Report, p. 109. Judge Porter mentioned another which Squier 
could not find. Mr Hildburgh located a village and cemetery on 
Fort hill half a mile west of Canandaigua, also a village or camp 
at the north end of the lake near the outlet and camps along that 
stream. There was an early site on the east side of the lake a little 
south of this. On the west shore, just south of Canandaigua, was 
another early site with caches. Graves have been found near the 
court house and a cemetery just west of the village. 

14 In the valley of Mud creek at Bristol were many early and 
recent camps. 

15 A large recent village in Bristol was reported by Mr Randall. 
No cemetery was found. It was half a mile south of no. 12. 

16 " Nun-da-wa-o-no was the name of their oldest (Seneca) vil- 
lage, situated on a hill at the head of Canandaigua lake near Naples, 
where according to the Seneca fable they sprang out of the ground." 
• — Morgan, p. 51. Schoolcraft called this Fort hill but nothing 
definite can be learned of remains there and the fort seems mythic, 
probably referring to the one east of the lake. Rehcs are likely to 
occur. 

17 A curious grave of burned clay was opened on the east side of 
Canandaigua lake in July 1893. It was four miles south of Canan- 
daigua and half a mile east of Gage's landing. Many early relics 
were found in the vicinity. 

18 Onaghee was several times removed. Mr Conover said it 
was at one time on Darwin McClure's farm, lot 20 Hopewell, three 
miles southeast of Canandaigua, half a mile north of the turnpike. 
A recent cemetery is not far away, and modern relics abound. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 1 29 

19 Five miles northwest of Geneva was a stockade on Fort hill. 
This was not far from a hill on which was an earthwork. It was a 
long parallelogram through which the road ran, on one side of 
which the post holes remained. There were caches and early 
rehcs. — Squier, p. 87, 88, pi. 13, no. 2. His plan is given in fig. 68. 

20 The Seneca castle of Ganundesaga was burned in 1779. The 
fort was built by Sir William Johnson and had modern features. 
The site and cemetery are carefully preserved one and one half miles 
northwest of Geneva. Squier's plan is given in fig. 69. Mr Con- 
over thought the people of Canagora moved to White springs and 
thence to Kanadesaga in 1732. 

21 There was an earthwork two miles beyond the last or three 
and one half miles northwest of Geneva, east of the Castle road. 
It was 800 feet long and an early site on high ground. — Squier, p. 55, 
pi. 7, no. I. Squier's plan is given in fig. 79. There are graves 
in the southern part. 

22 A small cemetery was opened near Melvin Hill in 1896. The 
heads of skeletons were to the west. 

23 Among the pine barrens on Mr Swift's farm three miles north 
of Geneva is a small site with early relics. Dr W. G. Hinsdale re- 
ported this and some of the following sites. There is a scattered 
site with early relics on the farm of John Laws on the county line 
north of the Waterloo road. 

24 In Geneva, on the old De Zeng place west of Main street, 
were many early relics and also camps near the south end of Main 
street on the south side of Glass Factory bay. 

25 Hon. George S. Conover reported a group of recent sites on 
Burrell creek, which are here placed under one number. The creek 
is very crooked and the lots are not in regular order. There was an 
orchard and a small recent cemetery on lot 36, Seneca east of the 
creek on the Rupert farm. A mile east of this and south of the 
creek was a recent village and cemetery on the old Wheadon farm 
on lot 12. Near the north line of lot 36 east of the creek was an 
orchard with a recent cemetery and fireplaces. A recent cemetery 
without relics and with longitudinal burial was on the Rippey farm, 
lot 9, south of the creek. A trail from the southeast came to the 
center of the old Brother farm on which there was a village. It 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



followed the highway northwesterly. Canaenda was removed to 
lot 32 on Burrell creek where there was a large cemetery mostly on 
N. A. Read's farm about 25 rods southwest of the creek. On that 
farm and east of the creek was one of the principal sites of the town. 
On lot 31 west of the creek was another recent cemetery. Lodge 
sites and a cemetery were on the Hazlet farm^ lot 37, west of 
Burrell creek. 

26 Kashong, on Kashong creek, seven miles south of Geneva, 
was burned in 1779, but the recent site is hardly well defined. A 
recent cemetery was opened near the lake in 1889. 

27 Camps on Canandaigua outlet. 

28 Relics have been reported from Squaw island^ at the foot of 
Canandaigua lake. Early implem.ents occur on a site on a hill 
west of this. 

29 A small village was west of Manchester Center, on the south 
bank of Canandaigua outlet, nearly two and a half miles north- 
west of the village west of Clifton. Earthenware and articles of 
stone occur. It was probably a fishing camp. Mr Coates reported 
this and the following. 

30 A large fortified town was in the town of Phelps, on a bluff 
facing the Canandaigua outlet, on its south side. A wall has 
been described there. No recent articles have been found and all 
are of ^ stone or clay. The site is northwest of the village of Phelps. 

31 Skeletons have been exhumed and relics found at Littleville, 
a hamlet on the creek south of Shortsville. Some of the latter indi- 
cate early visitors^ and several trails converged at the ford there. 

32 Three fourths of a mile south of Chapinville near the 
creek was a workshop. Flint chips, unfinished weapons and fine 
stone articles were once frequent there. Some other reputed Indian 
sites which he had not personally examined, Mr Coates did not 
describe. 

Orange county. The notes on this county are mainly from 
Outline history of Orange county, by Samuel W. Eager. 

I There was a hamlet abandoned in 1755 on Mr Mould's farm 
on the main road from Montgomery to Albany. Other sites were 
traditional. — Eager, p. 277 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 13I 

2 Another recent settlement on the flat above Wallkill bridge in 
Montgomery. — Eager, p. 277 

3 Indians owned an eel weir on the creek at Henry Crist's. — 
Eager, p., 277 

4 An Indian village and orchard on the east bank of the Wallkill 
on the town line between Wallkill and Montgomery. — Eager, p. 277 

5 Indian spring is east of the vihage of Michigan. Bushels of 
arrowheads have been found there. — Eager, p. 352 

6 " Maringoman's castle " was on the north end of Skunnemunk 
mountain and on the south side of Murderer's creek, Blooming 
Grove. The cemetery was a little south of this. — Beach, p. 7 

7 " Maringoman's wigwam " was on the north bank of the creek 
in Hamptonsburg at the junction of Otterkill and Greycourt 
creek. Early relics are found in many places near. — Beach, p. 7 

8 There was a recent village and cemetery in Minisink on 
Samuel Dolsan's farm. — Eager, p. 213 

9 On Jogee hill was another village with small images and 
abundant arrowheads. — Eager, p. 418 

ro On the Welling farm in Warwick was a village and orchard 
called Mistucky. — Eager, p. 423 

11 A cemetery on Sugar Loaf mountain had about 30 graves 
before the revolution, with paHsades around the mounds. — Eager, 
P- 517 

12 Dans Kammer is a cove in the north part of the town of 
Newburgh where the Esopus Indians met for rehgious dances, 
hence the name. De Vries mentioned these in 1640. Mr Frey 
had a site reported to him on the point. 

13 Another site was at Penn point below Newburgh. 

The Algonquin inhabitants shifted so often that there are few 
prominent sites. 

Orleans county, i There were burial mounds and other ancient 
remains in the town of Ridgeway. — Macauley, 2:113. Josiah 
Priest in his American antiquities (p. 327) speaks of forts in this 
town, which has since been divided, Carlton being taken from it 
in 1822. Dr F. D. Snyder reports finding two mounds on the north 



132 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



bank of Oak Orchard creek two miles from the lake. No other 
works were known. 

2 There was a circular work one and one half miles west of 
Shelby Center, of which Turner gives an account without mention- 
ing the double wall or more than one gateway. Squier quotes 
his account which has many features of interest. F. H. Gushing 
described it in the Smithsonian report for 1874, with its double 
walls, gateways and boulders. Some have ascribed to it a great 
antiquity. It is simply a prehistoric Iroquois fort with the usual 
relics, but it includes some Ohio shehs. Dr Snyder furnished a 
plan, given in fig. 67, divided into quadrants by fences, two sections 
being under cultivation. In one of these the inner wall curved to 
avoid two large limestone boulders. The passages through the 
outer and inner walls are not quite opposite. 

3 Half a mile west of this was once a large cemetery. Mr Squier 
says it is not known that many ancient remains occur in this 
county," and these are all reported. Schoolcraft speaks however 
of an old fort in a swamp at Barnegat now Shelby Center which is 
noted above. 

Oswego county. As a rule few important works or sites are 
found near Lake Ontario, as there was little security there except 
where there were rocky banks as on the Genesee river. Temporary 
fishing villages were more frequent and some should yet be found 
where streams of some size enter the lake, though the traces are 
rare. 

1 Otianhatague, or Canohage, was at the. mouth of Salmon 
river, and there was a fishing village there in 1654 and the following 
year. It does not seem to have been of long continuance as no 
one was there in 1656. Few relics are found. 

2 In Crisfield Johnson's History of Oswego county, p. 60 is an ac- 
count of a mound near Trout brook in the north part of Albion^ 
which rose from the midst of level land. It was probably a natural 
elevation but many relics are reported close beside it. On the top 
of a hill near by was a circular bank inclosing about two acres. It 
had a ditch. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



3 Bone hill was a burial place at Oswego Falls west of the river, 
but was probably natural. Human bones were frequent there but 
few were found when it was leveled. Around Lake Neatawantha 
are scattered camps with arrowheads and a little pottery. 

4 A small early hamlet was on the west side of Oswego river a 
mile south of Fulton. 

5 There was a hamlet of some size on the west side of the river, 
less than a mile north of Hinmansville with arrowheads, pottery, and 
camps near the mouth of Ox creek. Nothing has been learned of a 
fort on Ox creek mentioned by Squier. though there were camps on 
that stream. 

6 There was a circular work of less than an acre and with two 
gates on lot 24, Granby. This is on the hill east of South Granby 
station, and what remains appears in fig. 71. The removal of 
gravel has obliterated a considerable part of the work. The 
diameter is 240 feet. The descriptions in Clark and Squier are 
incorrect. Scarcely anything is found except a few fragments of 
pottery. It was occupied a very short time. 

7 Another similar fort once existed on level land on lot 32. It 
was occupied much longer and yields the usual relics. This also 
has been incorrectly described. 

8 There. was a semicircular work on the east side of the river at 
Oswego Falls. Supposing it once to have been circular, the 
western side was removed in cutting the canal. Mr Clark says it 
was about 10 rods across. This seems the fort which Squier men- 
tions near Phillipsville. Probably only semicircular. 

9 There were camps on the Oneida river at Caughdenoy, where 
the Onondagas and Oneidas had eel weirs, as well as elsewhere. 
Early travelers described these. There were small camps toward 
Brewerton. 

10 There were camps on the mainland and on the island in the 
Oswego river at Phoenix, mostly early, though some are very 
recent. It was a favorite fishing place and fine relics have been 
found, many hundreds coming from the island. 

11 There were camps, hamlets and cemeteries at Brewerton, a 
favorite early and recent resort. Harpoons and other bone articles 



134 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



are abundant, with some bone fish hooks. Clark's account of a 
large. cemetery is exaggerated. 

12 A small village on a point on the north shore of Oneida lake 
half way between Brewerton and Constantia. Early relics but no 
pottery. 

13 There are camps and reHcs on the lake shore west of Oswego, 
near the mouth of Eight Mile creek. They are rare in such situa- 
tions, but a small camp has also been observed two miles east of 
Oswego on the shore. Many arrowheads. 

Mr Clark reported remains of old fortifications on both sides of 
the river near Battle Island but diligent inquiry reveals none. A 
cache of flint articles was found east of the Battle Island dam. A 
curious earthwork reported by the writer on the east bank near 
Hinmansville seems not aboriginal and may not be military. It 
may have been a camp of Frontenac's army. 

14 Camp on the lake shore 2 miles east of Oswego. Early relics. 
Otsego county, i The Iroquois had little to do with this county 

till recent times and the few sites are of m.inor importance. Most 
of those about Richfield Springs may be placed under one heading, 
and are taken from Richfield Springs and vicinity, by W. T. Bailey. 
An oblong mound, often visited by the Oneidas, was reputed to be 
the grave of a chief and was in Mr Hopkinson's orchard in that 
town. — Bailey, p. 27. A recent cemetery was on a ridge opposite 
the lake house. — Bailey, p. 37. Three skeletons were found near 
that house and a cache of flint articles near the lake. Several places 
on Oak ridge^ west of the lake, half a mile from the head, had 
early articles. — Bailey, p. 39. In grading near the bridge east of 
this ridge skeletons were found with flat stones over the faces. — 
Bailey, p. 40 

2 Francis W. Halsey says that the first settlers in Coopers- 
town found arrowheads and stone axes in great abundance. This 
is the statement in J. F. Cooper's Chronicles of Cooperstown, p. 5. 
Rev. Richmond Shreve writes that there is a supposed sepulchral 
mound at that place on the east side of the Susquehanna. 

3 Garrett C. Pier reported several camp sites with early relics 
at the northwest end of Otsego lake. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 135 

4 The only mound of which he knew was at Oneonta. 

5 Mr Halsey says that on the Susquehanna west of the mouth of 
the Charlotte river was an Indian orchard, and a mound on an 
adjacent island was called the grave of Kagatinga, a chief. Vetal 
Winn reports an early site of three or four acres in the angle 
made by the south side of the Charlotte river with the Susquehanna. 
Pottery is found there. Articles from this spot were in the fine 
collection destroyed in the burning of the Oneonta normal school. 

6 The ancient Unadilla was burned in 1778, and was at the junc- 
tion of the Unadilla with the Susquehanna on both sides of the 
river. — Sullivan, p. 23. It was inhabited in 1753 by Stockbridge 
Indians and was mentioned by the Rev. Gideon Hawley. 

7 " It is stated upon very good authority that an ancient earth- 
work once existed near Unadilla." — Squier, p. 46. It is also stated 
that an Indian m^onument of a conical form 10 feet high once 
stood in this town. — Barber, p. 447. Mr Halsey also mentions this, 
a mile below Unadilla on the north side of the river, as a heap of 
stones on which the Indians cast a stone as they passed. 

8 He says that there was also a mound in which relics were found, 
but which was probably natural, on the north side of the river. 

9 A rather large village with an apple orchard was at the mouth of 
Otego creek. Arrowheads and sinkers are found. 

10 A large site between Schenevus creek and the Susque- 
hanna river, reported by T. L. Bishop, is thought by himx to have 
been Towanoendalough, the first Mohawk town on the Susquehanna, 
visited by Rev. Gideon Hawley in 1753. It is near and a little 
east of CoUiersville. The prehistoric relics far outnumber the recent, 
so that there were at least two occupations. It is on the north side 
of Schenevus creek and covers from 10 to 15 acres. On the west 
side of the river arrowheads, hammer stones and flint chips occur. 

1 1 A camp site is two miles north of CoUiersville and east of the 
river. Triangular arrowheads and broken and perfect earthenware 
are found. 

12 A recent site is one fourth mile south of Portlandville, east 
of the river. It has rude and early implements. 



136 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



13 A small site three miles north of Portlandville, east of the 
river has also early relics. 

14 Early relics are scattered about near the confluence of Cherry 
Valley creek and the Susquehanna a mile east of Milford. 

15 Early relics are also found on a camping ground of five acres 
a mile north of Milford, west of the river. 

16 Arrowheads are found on camps one half mile below Phoenix 
Mills^ east of the river. 

17 Niskayuna rock is a large boulder two miles north of Middle- 
field on the west side of Cherry Valley creek. A reputed rendez- 
vous, with some relics. 

18 An early camp is on the Coats farm^ one half mile south of 
Roseboom, on the west side of the same creek. 

19 Camp with abundant arrowheads at Schenevus lake a mile 
southwest of Schenevus. 

20 A small camp a mile west of Maryland, north of the creek. 

21 A camp on the w^est side of the river two miles below Colliers- 
ville. Rude implements and an engraved banner stone. 

22 A large camp three miles above Oneonta on the west side 
was an early site. A similar camp is opposite. These are above the 
camp at no. 5. 

23 An early and extensive camp two miles below Oneonta, 
north of the river. Arrowheads and pestles occur as on most local 
early sites. 

24 Perfect pottery has been found near Otego on the east bank of 
Otsdawa creek. 

25 A large camp two miles north of Otego, east of and near 
the creek. 

26 Camp on the JMatlin farm one and one half miles north of 
Garrettsville, east of Butternut creek. Early relics. 

27 A camp with early relics on the west side of the same creek 
two miles south of Morris, is on Jerome Lull's farm. All the 
sites from no. 9 inclusive though not unnoticed by others, were re- 
ported by T. L. Bishop of Portlandville. Pestles are found on 
nearly all. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK I37 

Putnam county. As in all Algonquin regions the sites here are 
small and scattered, and though frequent on streams have attracted 
little attention. L. W. Calver said in Popular science news of 
November 1896^ "The Indian village sites of the highlands are 
well known to those interested and have been explored time and 
again for such relics as occasionally come to Hght. The finds con- 
sist principally of arrow and spear points of flint or other hard stone 
and are of almost every known shape." All he mentioned were near 
Cold Spring, and had previously been reported by Dr James S. 
Nelson. The Canopus and Mahopac Indians lived in this county. 

1 A recent site is the Indian field two miles south of Cold Spring, 
directly opposite West Point. 

2 A camp a mile north of this where a copper knife was found. 

3 A camp on the outskirts of Cold Spring. Curious articles have 
been found near that place. 

Queens county. Shell heaps are frequent throughout Long 
Island, the natives not only feasting on shell-fish in the summer but 
drying large quantities of oysters and clams for winter use. In 
their own tongue the island was the land of shells. In another form 
it was the place of shell beads. In many places shell heaps con- 
tinuously line the shores of the bays, and often reveal more than the 
village sites. The latter are few in comparison. Within well de- 
fined territories the people were in constant motion. 

Ill skeletons were found in the Linnaean garden in Flushing 
in 1 84 1. All the heads were to the east. — Furman 

2 A cemetery was opened on Thomas P. Duryea's farm, a mile 
from Flushing in 1880. Stone relics were found in this. The 
Matinecocks had large settlements at Flushing, Glen Cove and Cow 
Harbor. There were other villages of this tribe in Suffolk county. — 
Thompson, p. 67. All will not be numbered. 

3 There were many relics and shell banks about Little Neck. 
Douglass point was the most interesting spot among these. — Mande- 
ville, p. 93 

4 The Jameco Indians had a village on a creek a mile south of 
the present village of Jamaica. — Thompson, p. 382 



138 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



5 Indian corn grinders, axes and arrowheads were often plowed 
up at the Maspeth hills. — Furman, The Maspeths lived at the head 
of Newtown creek. — Thompson, p. 410 

6 A small shell heap was at Sanford's point, Astoria, opposite 
the north end of Blackwell's island. There were early and quite 
modern relics. 

Bensselaer county. This is mainly, perhaps entirely, Algonquin 
territory as both sides of the Hudson were outside of the early Iro- 
quois limits here. 

1 Old Schaghticoke is near the mouth of the Hoosick river. The 
Mohawks gave the Schaghticokes a home here. The Knicker- 
bocker cemetery is the site of an Indian burial place. Near by is 
the Wittenagemote or Council tree. — French, p. 559. This is a 
Dutch name applied to an Indian custom and place. 

2 A site has been reported near Buskirk Bridge on the Tyoshoke 
creek with relics thence to Schaghticoke. 

All the following except the last two, were reported by Rev. O. C. 
Auringer of Troy, who has done much thorough work. He found 
few celts but many scrapers. Until recently he had found little 
earthenware which is generally rare east of the Hudson. Now he 
has large fragments. 

3 There is a site on Crooked lake east of the source of the 
Wynantskill in the town of Sand Lake. This has scrapers and 
grooved axes. 

4 A recent cemetery was opened in Lansingburg in 1897, but a 
neighboring camp was of an earlier type. 

5 There was an early camping spot of three acres with signs of 
two occupations on Green island. There were no gouges or 
pottery. 

6 Early site and cemetery at South Troy. 

7 Vandenburgh's hill. A varied and successive occupation over 
five acres, with finest articles near the surface. 

8 East Troy (Albia). A group of small sites extending over a 
hundred acres. Very rude articles. Remarkable for having no 
arrowheads^ spears, knives, polished work or pottery. 

9 The Moenemines' castle was on land bought by Van Rensse- 
laer in 1630 of the Mahikans east of the river. He also bought land 
of them on the west side. — Doc. his. N. Y. 14:1 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



10 Some Stockbridge Indians lived at Brainard's in Nassau in 
1760, where Mr Hoag's orchard stands. The place was called On- 
ti-ke-ho-mawck. — French, p. 557 

Richmond county, i A few implements and shell heaps with 
some graves have been reported near Tottenville at the south end of 
Staten island. 

Rockland county. There are probably many small camps in this 
county, but none have attracted much attention. 

I A heap of stones on the Cheesecock patent, 1700. — Green, p. 20 
St Lawrence county. This county was in the early Iroquois ter- 
ritory though it was visited by others. F. B. Hough says there 
are many open sites and that pottery is abundant by the low lands of 
tributaries of the St Lawrence. None of these have been definitely 
reported. There occur stone gouges, arrowheads of many materials, 
steatite beads and ornaments, bone needles and other implements. 
" Not infrequently a rude resemblance to the human face is noticed 
on these fragments of pottery." — Hough, p. 18. The important 
sites were reported by him. 

1 A fort on a hill is half a mile southwest of the railroad bridge at 
the village of Racket River in Massena. It was an irregular in- 
closure Hke an ox-bow. The open side was toward the river and 
had a ditch. There were no bastions, and Mr Hough said a pre- 
vious description he had given was erroneous. — Hough, p. 21. At 
a late hour Dr O. McFadden, of Massena, sent a careful plan of 
this. It was a stockade rather than an earthwork and had the usual 
trench in which pickets were set. The west line is 116 paces long. 
The opening is less and has some peculiar features. There are 
many pits about the open part and outside of the west line. Fig. 
91 is reduced from Dr McFadden's large and carefully made plan. 

2 There was a remarkable work on the farm of H. C. Holbrook, 
on or near mile lot 10 in the northeast part of Potsdam. It was 
semicircular, and was west of the river and half a mile north of the 
railroad bridge at Raquetteville. There were several gates, fire- 
places within and without, and the usual relics. Graves were found 
on a neighboring island. — Hough, p. 21 



140 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



3 There was a village near the Narrows of Black lake, and on a 
hill east of Edwardsville. It was half a mile long and had the usual 
relics. — Hough, p. 27 

4 There were obscure and perhaps recent paintings on the shores 
of Black lake between Hammond and the Narrows. Similar 
pictures occur on the Canada side of the St Lawrence. — Hough, 
p. 26 

5 Father Picquet founded the mission of La Presentation on the 
site of Ogdensburg. Many Onondagas and Cayugas went there. 
The fort became a thorn to the colony of New York. Sir Wil- 
liam Johnson said that the Oswegatchies were mostly Onondagas 
in 1763. These were at La Galette or Indian Point three miles 
below Ogdensburg. 

6 The road passes through a semicircular work on B. Pope's land 
in Oswegatchie. This is on lot 20 near Ogdensburg. Contrary to 
custom the ditch was on the inside. — Hough, p. 22. This is shown 
in fig. 70. 

7 Fred Howlett found Indian relics on the shore of Cran- 
berry lake in 1892. 

8 There are several sites with fireplaces in Macomb not described 
by Hough. Some forts he includes in his history and gives two 
plans in the regents report for 1850. One is on the farm of William 
Houghton and is north of the road near the east bank of Birch 
creek. He called it semicircular, with the ends of the bank resting 
on the creek. His plan in fig. 72 is very different. The area was 
one and one half acres, with pottery, steatite beads and stone imple- 
ments. The northern counties are remarkable for these beads. — 
Hough, p. 19 

9 There was a semicircular w^ork on a hill not far from this. It 
was credited to Capt. Washburn's farm in Gouverneur before the 
change in town lines. The account of rude sculpture is in- 
correct. — Hough, p. 19-20 

10 Half a mile northeast of no. 8 was a work on the land of W. P. 
Houghton and J. Sweet. It was irregularly oval and reached a 
stream. Some ash-beds were 5 feet deep. A village site was near. 
— Hough, p. 20 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



141 



11 A half circular wall was on the land of R. Wilson and the St 
Lawrence lead mining company. It had a gate midway on the west 
side and the ends of the wall rested against rocks. From the gate 
a wall crossed a stream to other rocks. — Hough, p. 20. Fig. 80 is 
his plan. 

12 Dr McFadden reported a small fort a mile southwest of Mas- 
sena. It was hke that at Racket River and on high land. 

13 A village site near the east end of Long Sault island yields 
abundant pottery. Seven skeletons were found in a mound south of 
this, a large pitcher-like vessel, four gouges, and some very coarse 
cloth, which looked like our hair cloth, only very coarse. Also 
seven strings of beads." The other mound was half a mile from 
this. 

14 A stone mortar and pestle were found a mile east of Massena 
Center and arrowheads are frequent in many places. 

These forts belong to a group on the north side of the St Lav;- 
rence and are early Iroquois in character. 

Saratoga county, i A cemetery is reported on the south bank 
of the Sacandaga, in the town of Edinburg but is in the town of 
Day. — French, p. 588. 

2 Near the mill pond on Snookkill in Wilton were early camps 
or a village. — French, p. 593 

3 There was a site at Saratoga village with early relics. — 
Atiringer 

4 Early relics are found on the camp sites on the flats at Sara- 
toga lake. — Stone, p. 89 

5 South of Stafford's bridge on the south side of the outlet 
was a grave with pottery. — Stone, p. 90 

6 A supposed pottery kiln was south of Fish creek between 
the bridge and the old Milligan place." — Stone, p. 89 

7 Camp sites along Fish creek from Saratoga lake to Schuyler- 
ville. One very large one is near the mouth." — Hildhurgh 

8 Large camp four miles from the mouth. — Hildhurgh 

9 A recent camp or village site on Arrowhead farm." This is 
on a hill west of Saratoga lake a mile south of the north end. — 
Hildhurgh 



142 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

10 Large and long occupied site at Round lake with early relics. 
There are smaller sites on the inlet. — Aiiringer 

1 1 Cache of flints in Charlton on the east side of Consalus Vlaie. 
Pottery is found on most sites. Arrowheads occur on all plowed 

land from Bemis Heights to Wilber's basin. The iMohawks fished 
at Cohoes but had no village there. 

Schenectady county. Macauley says that between 1616 and 1620 
the Dutch bought land at Ohnowalagantle, now Schenectady, where 
there was then a large [Mohawk town and some hamlets. The 
principal village was within the present city and the lands were cul- 
tivated. Traditionally the town occupied the site of Con-nugh- 
harie-gugh-harie, the ancient capital of the jMohawks. — Macauley, 
2 1284. This is quoted only to say that no part of it has any founda- 
tion though it has been naturally adopted by several writers. 

1 Camp near the Mohawk in Glenville with triangular arrowheads 
of yellow jasper. Another site a mile away, had arrowheads of all 
forms. — Amer. arch. 1894. Near the west line of Glenville about 
one and one half miles from the river, a camp and cornfield have 
been reported by P. Van Epps. Also a camp site north of the 
river near Hoffmans Ferry and small camps east of that place. 

2 A small camp a mile farther east noted for its triangular arrow- 
heads. The three following sites were also reported by him. 

3 A cemetery with curious relics was opened in a gravel bed in 
1874. There were bone tools and a hook, slate tubes, copper axe, 
perforated shells, a gorget and 135 copper beads. — Amer. ant. 
1894. This was about five miles northwest of Schenectady. 

4 A cemetery nearly a mile northeast of Sanders lake. 

5 A grave with relics in the northwest part of Rotterdam near 
Pattersonville, south of the river. 

6 Village site near Rexford Flats and the river. It is a mile west 
of that place on the east side of Alplaus creek four and one half 
miles northeast of Schenectady. Early relics occur over about five 
acres and there are fireplaces and abundant shells. 

7 Vihage site on the south side one and one half miles below 
Rexford Flats at the mouth of a small creek. Early relics are found 
over a space of half an acre. Hanford Robison reported these 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



two, and he has surface finds from Schenectady to Karner, seven 
miles southeast. 

In the spring of 1899 some large flint knives and a long stone tube 
were dug up near Hofifmans Ferry. These must be given an early 
date. 

Schoharie county, i The former stone heap near Sloansville 
was noticed by Rev. Gideon Hawley in 1753. Every Indian cast a 
stone on it in passing and his guide did the same. The heap was 
four rods long, one or two wide and from 10 to 15 feet high. It has 
been obliterated. — Simms, p. 632 

2 A mound on Shingler's land, near the cemetery south of 
Sloansville was on the east side of the road to Central Bridge. A 
workshop extended into the cemetery. There is also a recent Indian 
cemetery on the same side, on Albert L. Fisher's farm. This 
has headstones. A village site and workshop are on the east 
toward the creek. — Smith 

3 Workshop at the base of the lower Helderberg group 50 rods 
west of the bridge over Schoharie creek. In this are perfect and 
unfinished knives and arrow and spearheads. — Smithsonian report, 
1879. Workshop north and west of the depot at Schoharie and 
another west of the creek and fair grounds. — Smith 

4 At Grovenor Corners was a recent camp by a ledge of rocks. 
— Smithsonian report, 1879 

5 A square stockade was built for the Indians on Vrooman's land 
by Sir William Johnson. It had two blockhouses at opposite 
corners. There is a burial place. A village and stockade were east 
of the creek and opposite the next mentioned. The Schoharies had 
a village and stockade west of the creek on Henry Vrooman's land. 
— Simms, p. 31-32 

6 Another village had a cemetery and was on the Snyder farm 
several miles south of the first mentioned fort. — Simms, p. 32 

7 A recent cemetery on the river near Fultonham. — Simms, p. 32 

8 A Mohegan village was at the mouth of Little Schoharie creek 
in Middleburg. This had a stockade and all four forts were within 
four miles of the courthouse. — Simms, p. 32. The Mohawks made 
friends of their former foes and gave some of them land. 



144 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



9 There was a small village at Breakabeen. It had a cemetery 
and was west of the creek. — Siiiuiis, p. 207 

Schuyler county, i Peach Orchard was a small village burned 
in 1779 and was on the east side of Seneca lake. Condawhaw was 
a village in North Hector in that year. The name suggests Ken- 
daia, — Sullivan, p. 129 

2 Dr George J. Fisher found a small boulder with five artificial 
grooves in 1845. This was in North Hector^ three and one half 
miles south of ^ ]\Iecklenburg. Another small one was found 40 years 
later one and one half miles north of that village. They are rare 
outside of the Iroquois territory. 

3 There was " a village site and cemetery at the south end of 
Seneca lake in Watkins. European articles w^ere found." — Hild- 
bu7'gh 

4 Catharine was a little south of Havana and three miles 
from Seneca lake. It was a Seneca town of 50 houses and was 
built on both sides of the inlet. The Indian name was Sheoquaga. 
— SuUiz'an, p. 29 

5 Dr S. H. Wright reports mounds at Lake Lamoka. 

Seneca county. This county was occupied by both Cayugas and 
Senecas. De Witt Clinton spoke of several earthworks in it toward 
Cayuga lake but described none. Delafield also said " Other ruins 
of fortified mounds or elevated points exist in this county, too indis- 
tinct for description; every town affords abundant evidence of the 
long continued residence of the natives." — Delafield, p. 389. Many 
of the following were reported by Dr W. G. Hinsdale, among them 
the first six numbers including 13 sites. 

1 A lodge site on lot 90, Waterloo, with early relics. A similar 
one on lot 92 half a mile from this and north of Seneca river. A 
small site at R. McCurdy's, lot 91. Another on lot 92 north of the 
canal was a large site and once a marsh near the northeast angle of 
Seneca lake. It was plowed in the dry season of 1878 and several 
bushels of pottery with bone and stone articles were found. 

2 From the site on lot 91 early and recent relics are scattered 
along the river to Waterloo. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



3 Skoiyase was a village of 18 houses at Waterloo burned in 
1779. There were fishponds of stone. — Sullivan, p. 143. There 
was a large mixed site at Waterloo on lots 2 and 4, Fayette, south 
of the river. Early and recent relics. West of this were two small 
sites on lot 2. 

4 A small site at the mouth of Kendig's creek, lot i, Fayette. 

5 A straggling early site on the river bank, lot 10. There was a 
Cayuga village near there in 1750. A large site on the farm of 
R. J. Swan is continuous with this and is on Seneca lake. Most of 
it is on lot II. Early and recent relics. 

6 A small mixed site on lot 18, Fayette, on a bluff near the lake. 
A small early site on lot 24. 

7 An early site was on the Lawrence farm, lot 99, Seneca Falls, 
northwest of that village. 

8 A hamlet on Shankwiler's farm, lot 15. Burned in 1779. — 
Sullivan, p. 76. This is in Fayette. 

9 Skannayutenate a small village 40 rods from the lake on the 
south bank of Canoga creek half a mile northeast of the present 
Canoga. Burned in 1779. A monument to Red Jacket now marks 
his birthplace at Canoga. A town of 10 houses at the northeast 
corner of Fayette, one and one half miles from Canoga was burned 
in 1779. Newtown was also destroyed. It was on L. Disinger's 
farm by the lake a mile south of Canoga. — Sullivan, p. 76 

10 Camps are frequent near East Varick, lot 74, Varick. 

11 A small site on lot 64, Romulus. Few relics. 

12 An early site toward Kendaia is on Van Vleet's farm, lot 79, 
Romulus, four miles southwest of Romulus village and two from 
Seneca lake. A village site on lot 67 half way between this and 
Romulus. Abundant pottery. Kendaia was also on lot 79 and 
was burned in 1779. It was half a mile from the lake on the north 
side of the stream above the forks. Gen. J. S. Clark says it was 
on the farm of Edward Van Vleet on both sides of the stream. 
One of the tombs was particularly described. " The body was laid 
on the surface of the earth in a shroud or garment; then a large 
casement made very neat with boards something larger than the 
body and about 4 foot high put over the body as it lay on the 
earth; and the outside and top were painted very curious with a 
great many colors. In each end of the casement was a small hole 



146 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



where the friends of the deceased or any body might see the corpse 
when they pleased. Then over all was built a large shed of bark 
so as to prevent the rain from coming on the vault." — Sullivan, 
p. 129. Two others were much like this. 

13 An early site west of Kendaia on either side of the mouth of 
the ravine with hearths and relics. European relics near. 

14 On lot 93 of the same town in the forks of Rising's ravine 
a quarter of a mile from Seneca lake was once " a distinct wall with 
holes along the center which passed from one branch of the ravine 
to the other," inclosing a triangular spot 50 feet above the stream. 
Recent. Also a small site in front of the Willard asylum. — Hins- 
dale. 'He also reported a small site on lot 94 on a high bluff 
north of the steamboat landing. Sinkers, etc. 

15 Fishing hamlet on lot i, Ovid, at the mouth of a deep ravine. 
Others occur at similar places as far as Goff's point. 

16 Swahyawana was a hamlet on E. J. Dean's farm in the north- 
west corner of Romulus^ on the north bank of Sinclair Hollow 
creek. Burned in 1779. — Sullivan, 77. Caches on the farm of 
D. D. Johnson, lot 78, a mile south and three east of Romulus. 
About 20 caches with fireplaces. 

17 An earthwork on lot 29, half a mile from the south line in 
Ovid, on the lake ridge. It was an irregular ellipse with several 
gateways. — Delafield, p. 389. His plan is given in fig. 56. 

18 A recent cemetery at Goff's point on the bank of Mill creek, 
lot 26, Lodi. European reHcs. — Delafield, p. 388 

19 Charles S. Hall, of Geneva, N. Y., describes a village site 
on a branch of Kendig creek, lot 36, Fayette. It had pottery. 

20 He also describes a considerable village on the east shore of 
Seneca lake, lot 23, Fayette. Pottery was found. 

21 In the center of lot 33, Fayette, was a fortified town of 
which Httle is known. It proves to have been circular with an 
area of two acres. Brass kettles and gun barrels have been found 
there. 

In his Centennial historical sketch of the town of Fayette, p. 14, just 
published, Diedrich Willers gives a more satisfactory account of the 
work on lot 33, Fayette. A nearly circular bank inclosed several 
acres of elevated land. It was thick and high, with an outside ditch. 
The trees growing within and on the walls were as large as those 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 147 

without. The two gateways were 5 feet wide and large stones pro- 
tected the wall on either side of these. The principal gate was at 
the southeast and the smaller one at the northwest corner. An 
ancient cemetery was nearly a mile southeast of this fort, " where 
human skeletons of unusually large size were found in mounds of 
earth." The character of the mounds " is uncertain. 

Steuben county. But few notes could be secured in this county 
and some of these are indefinite. Some unlocated Delaware towns 
destroyed in 1764 may have been here. At that time there was a 
town of 30 good houses on the Cayuga branch with four villages 
and another at Canisteo. — Doc. hist. N. Y. 7:625 

Except as specified the following notes are from M. F. Roberts's 
Historical gazetteer and directory of Steuben county, 1891. 

1 When Avoca was first settled, there were 50 Indian huts on 
the Haskins farm. Early relics occur there. From 50 to 100 huts 
were on the flat below Abram Towner's house. These numbers 
are certainly too high. Location indefinite on the map. 

2 There are small camps and arrowheads at Hammondsport. 

3 At the settlement there were two square stockades of an acre 
each at Canisteo, one being on the bank of the river in the neck 
of a defile opening into the valley on the east. In early documents 
Canisteo is described as a village made up of stragglers in 1762 
and as a Delaware town of 60 houses in 1764. The stockade had 
a bank. The other similar work was at an opening into the valley 
from the south on Col. Bill's creek. 

4 Gen. J. S. Clark thought the tory settlement mentioned in Sul- 
livan's campaign was at Painted Post. Many relics have been 
found in that vicinity and there are some large sites. An effort 
by the writer to obtain information on these, from local collectors 
was not successful. 

5 A Monsey town called Assinisink was near the confluence of 
the Cainisteo and Tioga rivers in 1764. On the Pennsylvania his- 
torical map it is placed at the forks in the town of Erwin. 

6 As late as 1804 there were temporary camps along the north 
bank of the river in Cameron. Location indefinite. 

7 Ward E. Bryan reports that he has found many relics along 
Post creek which reaches the Chemung at Corning. On the east 
side of the creek there, a dike was cut through a site having arrow- 
heads and pottery. 



148 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



8 A cache of pieces of sea shells blocked out for disks was found 
in Lindley near the state line and east of the Tioga. This was on 
the farm of Curtis Guiles, about a mile from the forks of 
Cowanesque and Tioga rivers. ^Ir Roberts presented some of 
these to the writer. 

Suffolk county. The eastern end of Suffolk county had an early 
celebrity as the seat of the wampum trade which continued there 
till the middle of the 19th century. The refuse shells are abundant 
about Gardiner's bay and those opened for food form large heaps 
almost everywhere on the shore. Furman remarked that the shell 
banks in the western part of the county were larger than those in 
the eastern. W. Tooker who has kindly revised the list 

of sites says of the natives, Shell heaps, wigwam sites and other 
evidences of their footsteps are found near swamps, at springs of 
running water, on the southern slopes of hills, banks of ponds, 
shores of the bays and creeks and in other sheltered spots from the 
eastern extremity of ^lontauk to the western line of Southampton." 
To his labors we owe much of our definite knowledge and sites not 
otherwise credited are to be assigned to him. 

1 Wigwams and shell banks were frequent along the west shore 
of Lloyd's neck. 

2 There are lodge sites along the southeast shores of Huntington 
bay, and Thompson said that the IMatinecocks had settlements at 
Cold Spring and Huntington. — Thompson, p. 67. There were set- 
tlements all about Cold Spring Harbor. The writer finds some 
confusion about jNIartin Gerritsen's bay. Early accounts would 
seem to place it west of Oyster bay and some identify it with 
Schout's bay which according to A'an Tienhoven was on East river. 
His description of Gerritsen's bay in 1650 is evidently of Hunting- 
ton bay. Schout's bay had one river and Oyster bay divided into 
two. " jMartin Gerritsen's bay, or ]\Iartinnehouck, is much deeper 
and wider than Oyster bay and runs in, westward divides into three 
rivers, two of which are navigable; the sniallest stream, runs up 
in front of the Indian village, called ^lartinnehouck where they 
have their plantations." — Doc. hist. N. Y. 1 :366 

3 Five cemeteries at St Johnland were mentioned in the New 
York Sunday star, Nov. 28, 1880. There are shell heaps about 
Nesaquague. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 149 

4 At Stony Brook were immense quantities of shells.— 5 a^^j^ 
P- 234 

5 At Wading River there are many shell heaps. 

6 There was a cemetery near the shore southeast of Aquebogue. 

7 A recent stockade on Peconic bay was south of Cutchogue, 
on the east side of Fort neck. The lines of earth are distinct and 
inclose half or three fourths of an acre. 

8 Lodge sites near the shore east of Cutchogue. 

9 Cemetery with pottery half a mile east of Southold village. 
Lodge sites on the opposite shore southward. 

10 Lodge sites and shell heaps along the south shore of the 
point east of Greenport. 

11 On Shelter island was the Indian fort of 1639, shell mounds 
now indicating the site. Mr Tooker places four villages on this 
island. 

12 Shell banks on the west side of Gardiner's island. 

13 Great quantities of white quartz arrowheads have been found 
on the east side of Lake Ronkonkoma. They are common east- 
ward. 

14 Wigwams and shell heaps from Brookhaven westward near 
the shore. 

15 Village of the Secatogues about a mile southwest of Islip near 
Olympic. Thence there are shell heaps westward to the county 
line. 

16 Unkechaug village on the outer angle of the point three miles 
southeast of Brookhaven. Thence lodge sites and shell heaps 
extend east and west. Thompson says that the Secatogues had 
their chief village on Secatogue neck and that the Patchogues had 
their principal settlements at Patchogue, Fireplace, Moriches, Mastic 
and Westhampton. Mr Tooker says that the Patchogues were 
properly Unkechaugs, 

17 Passing over scattered shell heaps along the shore there was 
a fort and a cemetery about midway between Southampton and 
Shinnecock Hills. West of this are numerous lodge sites for some 
miles along the shore. 



150 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

18 Lodge sites on two small coves on the south shore of Peconic 
bay. 

19 Large village site with graves at Sag Harbor. 

20 Fireplaces and a refuse heap at Hogonock a little northwest 
of Sag Harbor. Bone implements and pottery. 

21 Not far southwest of Sag Harbor was a large village site 
where all kinds of arrowheads were found. On a lodge site one 
and one half miles away all were triangular. On another two miles 
ofif all were stemmed. 

22 At Three Mile harbor the earth on the west side is white with 
shells which were used in making wampum. There are some on 
the east. 

23 The Sachem's hole half way between Sag Harbor and East 
Hampton marked the spot where Poggatacut's head rested in 165 1 
when his body was set down on the way to the grave. The hole 
was feet deep and wide and was kept clear by the Indians for 
nearly two hundred years. 

24 A recent cemetery in the southeast part of East Hampton 
village. 

25 Indian well southeast of Amagansett and near the shore. 

26 Fort of 1661. This was on Nominick hill near Napeague. 

27 Two workshops south of Fort pond. 

28 Earthwork and ditch on the northeast side of Fort pond on 
Fort hill in Montauk. It was 100 feet square with a round tower 
of earth or stone at each corner. — Prime , p. 91-92. Mr Tooker 
reported this as 180 feet on each side and as very recently obliter- 
ated. There was a cemetery near and thence 'came a stone foot- 
mark now in the collection of the Long Island historical society. 

Sullivan county. As in much of the Algonquin territory there 
are no large sites here and few of the smaller have been reported. 
It is supposable that the name of Indian Field pond in Bethel refers 
to marks of occupation. French in his gazetteer says there were 
frequent traces of occupation, including trails, early and recent 
relics. 

I There were Indians at Mamakating hollow in 1700. — French, 
p. 64^ 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 151 

2 "On Big island two miles above Cochecton was an extensive 
burial place of which traces are occasionally plowed up at the pre- 
sent day." — French, p. 644 

3 Indian cemetery and village near Burlingham. — Schoonmaker, 
p. 40. Abandoned Oct. 4, 1663. Near the county line. 

Tioga county. For nearly all the sites along the Susquehanna 
thanks are due A. F. Barrott of Owego. Le Roy J. Tappan of 
Newark Valley furnished several on Owego creek. 

1 A site of two acres on Peter Caryl's farm northwest of Candor 
and on Catatonk creek. Pottery and stone articles. 

2 Camps on G. H. Thomas's farm west of creek half way between 
Weltonville and West Newark. Early relics. 

3 Camp on west bank of Owego creek two miles north of Newark 
Valley. 

4 Camp a mile north of the same place on both sides of the 
creek. Many fireplaces and early reHcs. Long occupation. 

5 Mr Tappan reported many mounds near Newark Valley which 
he hoped to explore. Fine relics were found five miles from there. 

6 Mound one mile south of Newark Valley near the east bank 
of Owego creek with early relics in and around it. 

7 Early camps on Luke Fleming's farm east of Flemingville and 
on the south bank of East Owego creek. Potstone dish and 
earthenware. 

8 Camps on George Burt's farm north of Catatonk and east of 
Catatonk creek. Pottery and early relics. In the Historical gazet- 
teer of Tioga county it is stated that the Onondagas had a fort on 
this creek at the settlement of Candor. This may be doubted. 

9 There was a cemetery on the lands of J. Piatt and C. F. John- 
son in the town of Tioga on the top of the cliffs on the west bank 
of Owego creek. — Gay, p. 476 

10 Hamlet on John Fleming's farm south of Flemingville and 
east of the creek. Abundant pottery. 

11 Camps on Bert Farnham's farm north of Scandlesville and 
east of the creek. Early reHcs and pottery. Camps on land of 
James Nelson south of Scandlesville and in forks of Catatonk and 
Owego creeks. Early relics. Old cemetery on George Brown's 
land southwest of the same place. Pottery and shells. 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



12 Early camps on G. H. Pumpelly's land, north of Owego and 
east of the creek. Pottery and stone relics. 

13 Recent relics and skeletons west of Owego creek and village. 
Also the whole of Owego from the upper end of Front street to 
the D. L. & W. railroad bridge. Stone relics, potstone and earthen- 
ware. Piles of mussel shells also. Some recent relics. There were 
graves and a burial mound. The village of 1779 was west of the 
creek. 

14 Spanish hill is at Waverly but on or over the Pennsylvania 
line and is nearly obliterated. Accounts are conflicting, some claim- 
ing an outer and inner line. There was a cemetery at the base of 
the hill. Gen. J. S. Clark thought this the town of Carantouan 
occupied in 161 5. It has been mentioned by many. 

15 Camps west of Smithboro and north of the river. Flakes and 
earthenware over several acres. Also a village site on Coreall's 
flats north of the river. Recent relics. 

16 Village on Mr Middaugh's land southwest of Smithboro and 
south of the river. Fireplaces and potstone. 

17 Camps east of Smithboro and north of the river, with others 
south. Early reHcs. Also west of Nichols and south of the river 
many fireplaces were unearthed by the washing of the bank. Fine 
pottery and some bone articles. 

18 A cemetery and village site on Mr Johnson's land south of 
the river and northeast of Nichols. Stone implements and orna- 
ments with pottery. 

19 Village site on George IngersoU's land south of Tioga Ferry 
and the river. Fireplaces, stone implements and soapstone orna- 
ments. On the south side of the river opposite no. 24, is a large 
village site probably with camps. Early articles with pottery and 
soapstone. On WilHam Lounsberry's land east of Tioga Ferry 
is another site with grooved pebbles. 

20 On Charles Smith's land are camps east of Canfield and south 
of the river. Ground flint articles. Camps on William R. Louns- 
berry's land east of Lounsberry and south of the river. Grooved 
pebbles and celts. Others south of Canfield and the river with 
great quantities of flakes and little else. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 1 53 

21 Camps on G. H. Pumpelly's land south of Owego and the 
river. Early relics. Also others on his land southeast of Owego. 
Between the D. L. & W. railroad bridge and the creek were early 
articles with two copper implements. On George Nichols's land 
east of Owego and south of the river are camps with arrow and 
spearheads and great quantities of flakes. 

22 Large and early village site on Serene La Monte's land. 
Many relics. Mr Barrott says, 50 years ago tent rings could be 
seen the entire length of three fields." 

23 Early camps on Mr Brown's land north of Nichols and the 
river have a little pottery with stone relics. 

24 A camp southwest of Tioga Center and north of the river 
has early relics and abundant earthenware. 

25 There was a camp similar to the last northeast of Tioga Center. 
Some camps are included in this number on Hardman Cole's land 
on the north side of the river and northeast of Canfield, with others 
on George Ferguson's land north of that place. On the former 
were stone mortars and soapstone vessels. 

26 Camps on Mr Bauer's land west of Canfield and north of the 
river. Early relics with earthenware. 

27 A large village site on Henry Tillbury's land north of the 
river and east of Nanticoke creek. Many relics and some gouges. 
Another farther west. Camps on Frank Tillbury's farm north of 
river and Apalachin ferry. Early relics. 

28 Two sites north of the river and east of Apalachin ferry with 
many and varied early relics. 

29 South of Hiawatha island and near Nanticoke creek. 
Earthenware. Also a camp east of Hiawatha ferry and the creek. 
Like the last. 

30 Opposite Campville and west of the ferry on Gen. B. F. 
Tracey's land. Much earthenware with clay pipes. 

31 Village site on Mr Catlin's land east of the mouth of Ap- 
alachin creek. Abundant earthenware and some glass beads. 

32 The remaining sites were reported by Percy L. Lang and are 
in the west part of the county. A camp half a mile northwest of 
Waverly. There are several villages and cemeteries near Waverly 
and south to Tioga Point. 



154 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



33 Two cemeteries, a village and camp are north of the river and 
near the state boundary line. These are above Waverly. 

34 A village and two camps are on the south side of the river. 
They range from the state boundary line to two and one half miles 
north of it. 

35 There is a camp site on the east side of Cayuta creek, three 
miles north of Waverly. 

36 A camp west of Cayuta creek is at the mouth of ^Miller run. 

37 A camp east of this creek is half a mile north of Lockwood. 

38 There are two camps south of the river at Barton and a ceme- 
tery half a mile west of the village. Two miles southwest are two 
villages and a camp. 

Numbers 39 to 41 are omitted through an error in adding* the 
following notes w^hich were sent by Percy L. Lang. 

42 A village east of the river and north of the state boundary line 
had stone implements. There was also a camp farther north con- 
taining pottery, and an early village and cemetery were on the west 
side of the river. 

43 There was a village at the north end of Manghatamanga flats 
and east of the river. Another camp was farther down the stream. 

44 A cemetery north of the river was half a mile west of Barton. 
Some camps were on the same side of the stream and east of that 
village. 

45 There were camps south of Barton and others farther south- 
west. The general indications are of a shifting population all along 
the Susquehanna. Ease of access to the soapstone quarries of 
Pennsylvania accounts for frequent articles of that material, while 
some articles which occur in the northeastern counties of New 
York are almost unknown there. Frequent grooved axes show 
also the presence of southern visitors, in Tioga county. 

Tompkins county, i In the winter of 1883-84 13 skeletons were 
reported to have been exhumed in Groton. They were placed in 
a circle with their feet to the center, a comparatively recent mode. 
Pipes and shell beads were found but the location was indefinite. 

2 There were graves on Fay Townley's farm in South Lansing 
but no rehcs were with the skeletons. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 1 55 

3 In his History of Cortland, Mr Goodwin said there was a small 
village at the mouth of Tagfhkanic creek which escaped the atten- 
tion of Sullivan's men and also one six miles southwest near Water- 
burg. 

4 A fort and cemetery were reported by Daniel Trowbridge in 
Ulysses half a mile from Waterburg. There was a bank and three 
rows of palisades. The relics were early Iroquoian — Smithsonian 
report y 1864. This was half a mile west of Waterburg the bank 
being on the north side of the road. The cemetery was on the 
south side. A skeleton was dug up a mile east of Waterburg. — 
Child. Directory, 1868-69. It is in the west part of Tompkins 
county half a mile east of the county line and a mile northeast of 
Perry City on the farms of Messrs Hart and Sherwood. The road 
passes through it. — Amer. ant. 1897. Fig. 81 is F. E. Her- 
rick's plan in that paper. It is singular in its combination of a 
wall and lines of palisades and seems to be about 500 by 350 feet. 

5 A. F. Barrott reported another fort on a bluff on Parker 
Wixom's land, with a wall crossing the bluff east and west. This 
was nearly three miles southeast of the last. 

6 Another fort was two miles south of no. 4, east of the creek 
and opposite Caleb Wixom's house. Mr Barrott reported this as 
circular but with a prolongation of the wall 15 rods southerly from 
the south gate. It is on a bluff. Mr Herrick described it as an 
immense early village. Besides no. 4, Mr Trowbridge spoke of 
three other forts within three miles, which he did not describe. One 
is unnoticed here. Fig. 86 is from a sketch by Mr Barrott. 

7 Coreorgonel was a small village burned in 1779, west of Cayuga 
inlet on high ground and two miles south of Ithaca. — Sidlivan, p. 
77. There are recent burial places at Coreorgonel and also north 
of Buttermilk falls and on the bluff near Dr Parker's, East hill. — 
Dudley. " Where Ithaca now stands were found cleared fields 
which had previously been cultivated by the Indians." — French, p. 
655. The Tedarighroones were adopted by the Cayugas in 1753 
and settled at the head of Cayuga lake which thence had the name 
of Totieronno. It has been thought that Poney Hollow was a 
contraction from the Saponies who may have lived there. 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Ulster county. S. L. Frey says of this county, It is a 
country of abundant streams and that it was occupied for a long 
time by aboriginal tribes is clearly shown by the abundant relics.. 
The indications however are that there was no long residence at 
any one point. There are no beds of debris, ashes, coal, bones, 
etc., such as are found on the sites of Iroquois villages." The 
people were Algonquins and of different habits from the interior 
nations. They raised corn but often changed their homes. There 
were several bands of these called by various names but generally 
known as the Esopus Indians, who lived in the valleys or near 
the Hudson river. They are famous for their wars with the Dutch. 

1 On a map of the Catskill region issued by the West Shore 
railroad in 1893 Indian graves are indicated between West Sauger- 
ties and Quarry ville. 

2 Rev. Dennis Wortman reports two village sites near Sauger- 
ties. 

3 There Avere cornfields near Wagondale and Sagerskill. — 
Sylvester, p. 57 

4 Several clearings and orchards were known in Olive at an 
early day. On the farm of Benjamin Turner was a cemetery. 
Early relics are frequently found. — Sylvester, p. 301 

5 Site at Glasco. 

6 The Esopus Indians around Kingston were sometimes called 
Warynawaucks. — Schoonmaker, p. 3. There was an inscribed stone 
at Esopus Landing and a village site near Kingston Point. 

7 There was a village and cemetery at Ponckhockie. 

8 An Indian fort called Wiltmeet is supposed to have been in 
Marbletown. — Schoonmaker, p. 15. In that town Mr Louis Bevier 
has fine relics found on his farm. — Frey 

9 There was a town at the junction of Rondout and Vernoey 
kills at Wawarsing. Arrowheads, etc. were found there. — Schoon- 
maker, p. 35. The grand council house of the Esopus Indians was 
there and thus several trails met. — Sylvester, p. 22 

10 In the Esopus war of 1659 the Indians had corn at Le Fevre's 
falls in Rosendale. This was on the flat owned by Timothy F. 
Tilson. — Sylvester, p. 42 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



11 There was a village in a strong place nine miles above this 
either in Rochester or Wawarsing. — Sylvester, p. 42. Schoonmaker 
places this in Rosendale at the same distance. — Schoonmaker, p. 17 

12 The fort of 1663 was at Kahanksen in Wawarsing four miles 
east and near the Rochester Hne. It was on the south side of 
Rondout creek just north of Shurter hill. — Schoonmaker, p. 36 

13 Henry Booth reports an early village site with relics a 
mile south of New Paltz, on the Wallkill. 

14 Another is at Libertyville. 

15 Another is on the Wallkill near Tuthilltown. 

16 The new fort in the Esopus war was in Shawangunk on the 
east bank of Shawangunkkill two miles south of Bruynswick post- 
office. It was on a sandy plateau on Matthew Jansen's land 75 feet 
above the river. Arrowheads, etc., are found. — Schoonmaker, p. 37. 
A two hours' march from the site of the Shawangunk church along 
the Hooge Berg. — Sylvester, p. 56 

Warren county. This was mainly a land of passage with many 
camps and few villages. 

1 Toward the head of Lake George on Dunham's bay was a small 
camp and another on Van Wormer's bay with but few rehcs. Most 
of these sites are mentioned in the History of the town of Queenshury, 
by A. W. Holden but more definite notes were furnished by Rev. 
O. C. Auringer of Troy, N. Y. 

2 Abundant relics occur at " Old Bill Harris's camp," Harrisena. 
There are several small sites along the creek leading to Dunham's 
bay. Early relics, but Holden says that they are mostly recent 
in Queensbury. 

3 Queensbury or Oneida, and Round pond. Several small sites 
along a small creek and pond extending over a square mile. Early 
relics and an unexplored mound in a creek bottom. 

4 Glen lake or Long pond and outlet. Several sites in an area 
of one and one half miles east along the outlet. Early relics. One 
small site on the south side of the pond. 

5 Head of Glen lake and inlet. Meadow run. Large site on high 
ground. 



IS8 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



6 Meadow run and Glendon brook. A large and early village 
site with some smaller ones. 

7 Big bend at the rifts of Hudson river. Two opposite sites 
historic and prehistoric, covering about six acres and having many 
relics. Fragments of pottery are scattered all over the county on 
both sides of the Hudson. A copper spear and stone implements 
were found at West mountain. 

Washington county. Like the last, this was a land of passage 
and there are many trails and scattered implements old and recent. 
Relics have been found in or about Cambridge, Salem and Fort 
Miller but without notes of sites. 

1 Site east of Cossayuna lake with fine relics. 

2 A similar small site near Cambridge. 

3 Several interesting sites near Smiths Basin south of Fort Ann, 
with much debris and some large caches of chipped implements. 

Wayne county. Few distinct sites have been found in this 
county but articles occur along the trails near Lake Ontario and 
elsewhere. 

1 An oval earthwork inclosing about five eighths of an acre is 
on Fort hill, a conspicuous spot a mile south of Savannah village. 
The gate is at the north end and there is a large cache within. 
Fragments of pottery abound. Fig. 82 is a plan of this small work, 
the long axis of which is about 256 feet from center to center of 
the ditch. It has not been before described. 

2 Many articles occur along Crusoe creek. 

3 There were one or more Indian villages in Galen. There are 
several fireplaces on Joseph Watson's farm near Clyde and many 
relics have been found. — Cowles, p. 252. A large mortar half a 
mile east of the last on A. Snedekar's place near the Roman catholic 
cemetery. Arrowheads are found. These are near the Clyde river. 

4 Arrow and spearheads are found in Butler. 

5 An early site of some size three miles northeast of Wolcott 
village and near the railroad. 

6 A few arrowheads and celts have been found at Sodus Point. 
On W. E. Sill's land half a mile south of this the writer found two 
lodge sites and some relics but nothing was seen all along the bay. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 1 59 

7 A recent grave was found a mile north of Wolcott in 1894 
on the Thacker farm. 

8 A stone mortar was dug up near the custodial asylum in 
Newark. 

Westchester county. This county was well stocked with Al- 
gonquin tribes^ and these and the sites have been quite fully re- 
ported in Bolton's History of Westchester from which most of these 
notes are taken. 

1 An old fort and village were near Annsville in Cortlandt. — 
Bolton, I :58. Sachus or Sackhoes was a village at Peekskill. — 
Bolton, 1 184 

2 The Kitchawanks were near the Croton and north to the High- 
lands. In Cortlandt at the entrance of the neck proper was the 
castle of Kitchawan. — Bolton, 1 184. This was on Senasqua neck, 
now called Croton point. The castle was west of the Van Cort- 
landt cemetery and a burial place used in 1641 was east. — Bolton, 
1:196. In August 1899, Mr Harrington, of the Museum of natural 
history, New York, discovered the earthwork at Croton point. It 
is low but well defined. He found four skeletons, but no relics of 
value. 

3 Early relics and skeletons have been found on Oscawana island 
and on the neighboring shores. — Bolton, 1:180 

4 The principal village in Yorktown was on Indian hill, 600 
feet above the north bank of Lake Magrigaries now Mohegan 
lake, on the east side of the hill. — Bolton, 2:661. The cemetery was 
on the south side and on the east side of the town was the Indian 
cemetery of Amawalk. — Bolton, 2:662 

5 There was a village on Crane's lake or on the rocky ridge of 
Croton river in Somers, with lodges on most streams and high 
grounds. Some were on the east side of Angle Fly brook. — Bolton, 
2 :252 

6 A cemetery at Wood's bridge at the junction of Plum brook 
and Croton river in this town. — Bolton, 2:252 

7 Cemetery on the road from Boutonville to Bedford beyond 
Wepuc stream. — Bolton, 1 :396 

8 Another west of the bridge between South Salem and Cross 
river. — Bolton^ 1 :396 



i6o 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



9 Nanichiestawack was on the south side of Indian hill, Bedford. 
It was the scene of the fight of 1644 and mounds existed there in 
1765. — Bolton, 1:7. A traditional burial place was in the present 
Bedford cemetery. — Bolton, 1 

10 Cemetery on an island in a swamp northwest of the road from 
Ridgefield to Bedford but in Lewisboro. The Indian well is on 
the east Hne of the town. — Bolton, 1 :395. At Cohansey in Bedford, 
Indians lived during the colonial period. Potamus ridge near 
Beaver Dam river was occupied in 1692. — Bolton, i 4 

11 Pequot mills are in the woods on Smith's ridge. There are 
many circular mortars in the rocks and a stone mound is near. 
Early rehcs are frequent on Lake Waccabuck in the north part of 
Lewisboro. — Bolton, 1 :396. Farther north in Xorth Salem was a 
village of 1656 and a cemetery northwest of the manor house. Vast 
quantities of spear and arrowheads are found on the high grounds. — 
Bolton, I 734 

12 There was a village in Lewisboro near the state line. — Bolton, 
1:395. ]\Iany relics have been found about Cross pond, on the east 
side of which there was a stone mound. — Bolton, 1 1394 

13 Indian pound was at the foot of a high ridge south of the 
present village of Poundridge. It was an inclosure for game. — 
Bolton, 2:103. There was an old cemetery at the foot of Stony 
hills. — Bolton, 2 :i24 

14 A village on Chappaqua hills in New Castle and another on 
the south bank of Roaring brook. An Indian cemetery was near 
the last with early rehcs. — Bolton, 1 -.^6^ 

15 Recent lodges and cemetery on the south side of Kirby's pond 
at New Castle Corners. — Bolton, 1:566 

16 Stockade in North Castle a little south of Armonck. — Bolton, 
1:697 

17 The principal village here was on the north side of Rye pond. 
Extensive shell beds with many relics. Villages also on Armonck 
and Byram lakes and a cemetery near Wampus ^ond— Bolton, i :698 

18 The Sint Sincks lived in the town of Ossining and had a vil- 
lage at Sing Sing in the 17th century. — Bolton, 2:9. There was a 
village in this town between Sing Sing and Croton. — Bolton, 2:2 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK l6l 

19 In the town of Mount Pleasant behind the old Dutch church 
at Sleepy Hollow were several mounds and a fort. — Bolton, 1 1506 

20. The village of Alipconck in 1659 was at the south end of 
Tarrytown on a hill where there were deep shell banks. — Bolton, 
i:2g4 

21 Three castles were described at Wetqueschek in 1642. This 
was at the mouth of the stream at Dobbs Ferry and in the vicinity. 
There are deep shell banks. But one castle remained in 1663. — 
Bolton, 1 :259 

22 In 1746 there was a village in Greenburg on Mr McChain's 
farm and one on Indian hill. — Bolton, 1 1260 

23 There were lodge sites and a cemetery in White Plains and 
also a mortar cut in the rock. — Bolton, 2:535 

24 In Yonkers there were village sites on the Nepera. — Bolton, 
2 : 576. A cemetery two miles north of Yonkers on Blackwell's hill, 
and another at the entrance of Sprain valley, with scattered graves 
elsewhere. — Bolton, 2:577-78 

25 A Mohegan stockade on Berrian's neck and a cemetery.^"^ — 
Bolton, 2:578. 

26 Extensive shell beds in West Farms on the East and Harlem 
rivers with burial mounds near Gouverneur Morris's residence. — 
Bolton, 2 :45i 

27 In the town of West Chester the principal village was on 
Castle Hill neck and at Bear swamp. There was a cemetery on the 
southeast side of Spicer's neck and many shell heaps on the East 
river. — Bolton, 2 -.264 

28 The castle of the Sinamon Indians was on a hill in the village 
of East Chester and there were lodges on a neighboring stream. 
Vast quantities of early reHcs have been found in the town. — Bolton, 
I :202. There are supposed stone foot marks in the southeast part. 
— Bolton, 1 :247. A village site with graves has been reported north- 
east of old East Chester church on the banks of East Chester creek. 
— Smith 

29 Vast numbers of shell beds and stone relics have been found 
in Pelham. The favorite burial place of the Siwanoys was at the 
entrance of Pelham neck. Numerous mounds occur but most are 
recent. Some are early and have quartz arrowheads and pottery. — 



1 Berrian's neck is now in New York county. 



l62 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Bolton, 2 :36. On the extreme point in Pelham was another cemetery 
with quantities of arrowheads. There was a venerated stone on 
Hunter's island and a large workshop west of Pelham Priory. — 
Bolton, 2 : 37 

30 Davenport's neck in New Rochelle was covered with wigwams 
in 1746 and there are extensive shell beds along the shore with 
scattered hamlets elsewhere. There is a quartz quarry and curious 
relics in the north part of the town. — Bolton, 1 : 581 

31 In Mamaroneck was the village of Kitchawanc on the project- 
ing rocks opposite Heathcote hill near Mamaroneck bay. The 
cemetery was northeast of this. There were extensive works on the 
high ground north of the hill forming long ridges with correspond- 
ing depressions. There were four circular pits and a mound on the 
south with other works on the west side of the hill. — Bolton, i 1464 

32 The principal Mohegan village was at or near Parsonage- 
point in Rye. A cemetery was near this on Burying hill and there 
were many scattered graves and sites in the town. — Bolton, 2 : 128. 
Abundant remains and shell heaps occur on Peningoe neck in this 
town. — Baird, p. 20. A cemetery was opened on the bank of Blind 
brook in 1855 and other graves in 1867 on the other side. These 
were old. — Baird, p. 193. Several small villages, rock mortars and 
early relics occur along the shores of Rye. — Baird, p. 194 

33 There was a village with shell heaps at the south end of 
Manursing island. — Baird, p. 193 

A village has been reported at Bullock's landing and probably 
many have never been distinguished. There is very little earthen- 
ware, but shell heaps are too numerous to be specified. The 
abundance of sea food and the ease of communication made this a 
very populous district. 

34 A shell heap at Throgs Neck near Schuylerville in the town of 
West Chester. Both early and very modern relics. 

35 Small triangular arrowheads are frequent near the shore at 
Larchmont park. The additional notes were supplied by M. Ray- 
mond Harrington of Mount Vernon, N. Y. 

36 Camp at the forks of Mamaroneck river. Another northeast 
of this, on the same stream and near a high rock, four miles north of 
Mamaroneck station. Arrowheads at both. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 163 

37 David's Island has yielded many arrowheads. A grave or pit 
on Hunter island had some fine articles, including a circular orna- 
ment of mica. On this island are several shell beds, one of which is 
covered at high tide. Arrowheads are frequent. 

38 A small village site at the end of Davenport's neck, had 
grooved axes, celts, arrowheads and mortars and a little pottery. 

39 There are many shell beds along Hutchinson river and Pel- 
ham bay, on the east shore. One of these is some distance up the 
river. A group of six is a quarter of a mile above the railroad 
bridge, and they are about 12 feet across and a foot high. Another 
group still farther south, extends along the east shore of the bay 
below the foot bridge, for about 200 feet. The group includes a 
village site. South of a cove in the bay is an unexplored shell bed. 
Beyond this a small one with arrowheads and pottery. At the end 
of the point is a cemetery. Much farther north and on the east side 
of the point is another cemetery, three fourths of a mile south of 
Bartow station. The graves were on two knolls, about 50 feet in 
diameter. A shell heap, 40 feet across, lies behind the largest. A 
field by a small stream, half a mile north of Bartow station, has 
several shell beds. A great variety of relics has been found there. 
A small fields south of this and near it has many relics, and a shell 
bed. 

40 On the west side of Pelham bay, at the mouth of a brook one 
and one half miles south of Bay Chester station, are shell beds. 

41 Camp of 2 acres on Hutchinson river, a mile south of Pelham- 
ville station. There are but few shells, but many stone relics. A 
very small but similar site is opposite. 

42 A shell bed, 50 feet in diameter, is a mile south of Rye station, 
on the west bank of Blind brook. It has pottery and argillite arrow 
and spearheads. 

Mr Harrington furnished notes on some sites already mentioned, 
but these may be summarized in order. At Dobbs Ferry (4) and 
Irvington he had seen shell beds. Byram lake (22) has been raised 
and some land overflowed, but arrowheads still occur. Rye 
pond has also been raised^ while Kirby pond has been drained. On 
Teller's point, at the end of Croton neck, were two very large and 



NEV/ YORK STATE MUSEUM 



deep shell beds, the larger with few relics, and the smaller with 
many. There was a village on the Bronx river, a quarter of a mile 
south of Bronxville station, (28) which had fine relics, including 
pottery. A large shell bed was west of and opposite the south end 
of Hunter island, (29) and had many interesting relics. A series of 
shell beds, forming a large village site, was north of this, and op- 
posite the north end of Hunter island. A great variety of relics. A 
large shell bed (31) is on the north shore of Delancey's neck, ]\Iamar- 
oneck. Another similar bed is northeast and opposite, on Rye 
neck, in Rye. A village (33) was between Beck's Rye beach and 
Oakland beach. Pottery and arrowheads. Another camp on the 
neck just south of Parsonage point, with similar relics. On these 
sites pottery- is frequent, as well as hammer stones and net sinkers. 
PoHshed stone is not common, and many articles are entirely lack- 
ing. Pipes are very rare, but fine articles were not likely to be lost 
in shell beds or heaps. The use of shells in graves has features of 
interest. 

Wyoming county. i On the northwest side of the Genesee a 
mile or two above the falls was a work on a small but high hill first 
described in 1808. The small hill south of Portage mentioned by 
Squier is the same. — Sqiiicr, p. 63. ■Mr Reynolds described it as a 
circular work four and one half miles south of Portage. A mound 
was on the flats 25 rods north of this. J. S. "Minard of Fillmore 
furnished the writer with plans of this, one of which is given in fig. 
83. The work is oblong, inclosing one and three fourths acres, 
and is on lot 107 of the Cottringer purchase, town of Genesee Falls. 
A plan appears in a report of the U. S. bureau of ethnology, 1890-91. 

2 Gadao was in Castile near the outlet of Silver lake.— 
p. 435. It was commonly called Gardeau. 

Yates county, i A noted work was on Bare hill, lot 70, i\Iiddle- 
sex. It was about 1000 feet above the east shore of Canandaigua 
lake. It has never been figured and but slightly described. The 
fallen stones of the wall have been scattered, but the ditch remains 
inclosing one acre. The fort is a little north of Vine A'alley. It is 
the early fort of Seneca traditions but there are few indications of 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 165 

occupancy. The great serpent ate all the people. It seems the fort 
usually referred to Naples at the head of the lake. 

2 The " Old fort " in Shearman's hollow was a prehistoric earth- 
work near the schoolhouse on lot 48, Jerusalem. — Cleaveland, p. 449- 
50. It was near Friend on the north line of the town and was a 
rectangle of two acres. Pottery occurs there and a large stone 
mortar was found. Dr S. H. Wright however reports it as a stock- 
ade with two trenches and many openings. There was a cemetery 
near. 

3 A valley southeast of Italyhill was much frequented and three 
artificially grooved boulders were found on 'Mr Paddock's farm. 
This was a mile southeast of that village. 

4 An Indian village and orchard were a few rods south of Italy 
Hollow. Another village and orchard were a mile north of the 
Big Elm in the same valley. 

5 Grooved boulders occur in Guyanoga valley about one and one 
half miles from Branchport. A cemetery is near these on D. W. 
Dickinson's land. 

6 There are graves on the Ellsworth farm half a mile northeast 
of Branchport. 

7 A burial mound and cemetery with mostly modern relics near^ 
have been described on the west shore of Lake Keuka. Several 
circular structures of sandstone were on the east side of the outlet 
near the lake. — Cleaveland, p. 715 

8 Graves on lot 43, Milo, on the Thayer place near the lake are 
mentioned in this. Early and recent relics. Probably the same as 
an old work on lot 34, which is three and three fourths miles south 
of Penn Yan and less than a mile east of the lake. It occupied about 
six acres and had one trench. There was a large cemetery toward 
the lake. 

9 Bones and mica were found in a mound on the west side of 
Bluff Point about two miles from its southern end. 

10 Dr S. H. Wright fully described and illustrated some curious 
remains on lots 5 and 6, Bluff Point, eight miles south of Penn Yan. 
He called it a system of graded ways but so unlike any New York 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



work that farther examination should precede opinion. The area 
is seven acres and there are no rehcs. — Regents, 25th report, p. 193 

11 An old work was on lot 104, Benton, four miles northwest of 
Penn Yan. 

12 The Kashong site is near Bellona on the line of Ontario 
county and near Seneca lake. There are early and recent ceme- 
teries. An early one is north of Earl's station and toward the lake. 

13 Early and recent cemeteries occur at Dresden on Seneca lake. 

14 An early site is reported at the mouth of Big Stream on the 
same lake. 

These notes were partly furnished by Dr S. H. Wright and 
Miles A. Davis. With few exceptions the relics are Iroquoian. 



Mr Squier gave 37 plans in his account of the antiquities of New 
York. Over 50 more are included here and others might be 
obtained by prompt action. It is to be regretted that the descrip- 
tions of these had to be made so brief. Many deserve much fuller 
treatment, such as they may receive at a later day. On so small a 
scale the location of sites could not be precise, nor could appro- 
priate symbols be used. For future and enlarged work of this kind 
it is fortunate that there is now much material available in notes and 
larger charts. Could all the notes of local antiquarians be even now 
placed together they would form a collection of incalculable value. 
It is hoped that this preHminary survey may stimulate work of this 
kind. Town and county maps of Indian sites are greatly desired 
from all parts. Simple and accurate descriptions will greatly in- 
crease their value. It is a work worthy of the attention of every 
scientific and historical society in New York, and of every earnest 
antiquarian. 

A few words on this important work may be said in conclusion. 
In giving the location of sites of any kind, a county atlas will be 
found useful, as the town plans allow the assignment of all to farms 
as well as town lots. This seems the best way to make a personal 
record of field work when it can be done. In some cases topo- 
graphic maps of the New York surv^eys can be had at Albany, which 
will be found well adapted for such work. Where the atlas is 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



167 



employed a tracing or a transfer to a map on a smaller scale may 
be used for transmission. Where mere descriptions are made it 
will be well to note the town lot, the distance and direction from 
some village, stream or road, the space occupied and the length 
of occupation^ which' is often indicated by the depth of fireplaces 
and the blackness of the soil. The character and abundance of 
articles are also often matters of the highest importance. The 
position of bodies in sepulture may be noted, and the absence or 
presence of articles of any kind. In some cases peculiar stones 
alone were placed with the dead, and the mode of burial varied 
greatly. Instances of overlying or inclosing stones should be 
particularly described. 

In either descriptions or surveys of defensive works it should 
be stated whether they were stockades, or had a bank and ditch. 
Much confusion has arisen from lack of care in this, many stockades 
having been described as earthworks, the narrow and shallow 
trench in which the pickets were placed appearing as a ditch. 
Dimensions should be given of all works when possible, and in 
earthworks it should be specified whether the measurements are 
to the ditch or wall. The number, position and width of gates are 
matters of importance. 

In examining mounds or graves it is well to have a camera at 
hand, to photograph sections of the mounds or the arrangement of 
bodies or bones in burial. Some of the very few remaining 
mounds in western New York should be thus carefully examined 
by an expert. The work should not be superficial but excavation 
should be carried down to undisturbed earth, and every point of 
interest noted. With similar care many .old village sites may yet 
yield valuable results. The plow throws out much for a time but 
does not reach the bottom of long used fire places. These may 
have a depth of several feet, and in the ashes, fine and early bone 
implements are often preserved in all their pristine beauty. In 
fact very few of these will be obtained without the use of the spade. 
Where there are steep banks near a fort or village one or more 
dumping places of refuse will usually be found. Amid the bones, 
ashes and coals, many broken or perfect articles may appear. 



i68 



NEW YORK STATE MUStUM 



It would be easy to enlarge on this, but hints like these are to 
be made as simple and practical as possible. The experienced 
antiquarian will not require them in his wider knowledge. Simple 
and easily understood they will be found helpful by many who 
have had fewer opportunities. When practised they will transform 
the mere collector into a promoter of historic science. He will 
no longer be execrated by some leaders in the field as a hindrance 
rather than an aid to clearer knowledge, but he will become one 
of the helping hands without which wise heads can do Httle 
or nothing. The knowledge gained will be accurate and wide- 
spread, and in the end will lead to valuable results. How much 
such workers are needed may be seen in the very limited reports 
from some counties. How much can be accomplished by men who 
are busy in other ways appears in some of those found elsewhere. 
For all the aid they have given him, others may well unite with 
the writer in returning most hearty thanks to these painstaking 
helpers in the task of obtaining a clearer knowledge of aboriginal 
history. 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 169 

EXPLANATION OF PLATES 

Page numbers refer to fuller descriptions in bulletin. 

FIG. Plate 1 PAGE 

1 Work in Auburn^ Cayuga co ' 36 

2 Stockade in Ledyard, " 39 

3 Earthwork in Sinclairville, Chautauqua co 46 

4 Work near Cassadaga creek, 47 

5 Elhptic work in ElHngton, 48 

6 Large circular work between Fredonia and Forestville, 

Chautauqua co 44 

7 Fort near Belmont, Allegany co 30 

Plate 2 

8 Burial mound, Conewango township, Cattaraugus co . . . . 33 

9 Work near Cassadaga creek, Chautauqua co 47 

10 Circular work on Elm creek, near East Randolph, Cat- 

taraugus CO 33 

11 Small work in the town of Mentz, Cayuga co 36 

12 Stockade in Ledyard, Cayuga co. . . 38 

13 Elliptic work in Ellington, Chautauqua co 49 

Plate 3 

14 Earthwork near Belvidere, Allegany co 29 

15 Work near Cattaraugus creek, Cattaraugus co. ......... . 32 

16 Circular work on south side of Allegany river, Catta- 

raugus CO . ' 34 

17 Works in South Stockton, Chautauqua co 46 

18 Earthwork in Randolph village, Cattaraugus co 33 

Plate 4 

19 Angular work near Ehington, Chautauqua co 48 

20 Line of fortifications near east shore of Cassadaga lake, 

Chautauqua co 44 

21 Mounds at Griffith's point in Ellery, Chautauqua co. . . . 45 

22 Circular work in Carrollton, Cattaraugus co. 34 

23 Work southwest of Elmira, Chemung co 50 



1 70 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

FIG. Plate 5 PAGE 

24 Works near the mouth of Mill Brook, Delaware co 59 

25 Mound near Cattaraugus creek, Erie co 65 

26 Mound and excavation near Cattaraugus creek, Erie co. . 65 

27 Small work near Lancaster village^ Erie co 63 

28 Earthwork near Clarence, Erie co 62 

29 Earthwork on Buffalo creek near Buffalo, Erie co 62 

Plate 6 

30 Fort in Newstead, Erie co 63 

31 Semicircular work on Cattaraugus creek, Erie co 65 

32 Earthwork near Clarence, Erie co 62 

33 Circular work near Clarence, Erie co 62 

34 Stockade near Sammonsville, Fulton co 67 

35 Small work near Lancaster village, Erie co 63 

36 Curious work in Lancaster, Erie co 63 

Plate 7 

37 Fortification at Fort Hill, near Le Roy, Genesee co 69 

38 Old fort in Oakfield, Genesee co 68 

39 Small work on south side of Rutland hollow, Jeffer- 

son CO 76 

40 Work in Adams, Jefferson co 76 

41 Earthwork in Ellisburg, Jefferson co 77 

42 Work near Burr's Mills, Jefferson co 76 

Plate 8 

43 Earthwork near Watertown, Jefferson co 75 

44 Circular work " " 75 

45 Fortification in Le Ray " 74 

46 " " 74 

47 Small work on south side of Rutland hollow, Jefferson co. 76 

48 Earthworks, northwestern part of Rodman, Jefferson co. 77 

Plate 9 

49 Earthwork in the town of Watertown, Jefferson co 76 

50 Earthwork near Burr's Mills, Jefferson co 75 

51 Earthwork near Pierrepont Manor, Jefferson co 77 



ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 171 

FIG. PAGE 

52 Fortification in Le Ray, Jef¥erson co * 74 

53 Work in Le Ray, Jefferson co 74 

54 Work near Sanfords Corners, Jefferson co 75 

Plate 10 

55 Stockade near Livonia, Livingston co 82 

56 Elliptic work on lot 29, near Ovid, Seneca co 146 

57 Mounds on the shore of Lake Ontario, Monroe co 96 

58 Fortification near Livonia, Livingston co 82 

59 Stockade near Perry ville, Madison co 89 

60 Stockade west of Cazenovia village, Madison co 87 

Plate 11 

61 Village in the town of Mendon, Monroe co 98 

62 Small fort on lot 81, near Elbridge, Onondaga co 118 

63 Stockade near Jamesville, Onondaga co. . . 122 

64 Earthwork on lot 70 in Elbridge, Onondaga co 118 

65 Fortification on lot 84 near Elbridge, Onondaga co 119 

Plate 12 

66 Fort near Canandaigua, Ontario co 128 

67 Circular work near Shelby Center, Orleans co 132 

68 Stockade on Fort hill, 5 miles northwest of Geneva, On- 

tario CO 129 

69 Stockade near Geneva, Ontario co 129 

70 Semicircular work near Ogdensburg, St Lawrence co. . . . 140 

71 Circular work on lot 24, Granby, Oswego co 133 

72 Fortifications in Macomb, St Lawrence co 140 

Plate 13 

73 Earthwork in the town of Minden, Montgomery CO 104 

74 Stockade near Delphi, Onondaga co 124 

75 Stockade near Baldwinsville, Onondaga co 116 

76 Circular stockade near Delphi^ Onondaga co 124 

77 Stockade near Pompey Center, Onondaga co . . . 123 

78 Fort near Victor, Ontario co 126 

79 Earthwork near Geneva, Ontario co 129 



172 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

FIG. Plate 14 PAGE 

80 Earthwork, Rossie, St Lawrence co. 141 

81 Fort in Ulysses, near Waterburg, Tompkins co 155 

82 Oval earthwork near Savannah village, Wayne co 158 

83 Work 4-i miles south of Portage, Wyoming co 164 

Plate 15 

84 Indian earthwork near Cattaraugus creek, Cattaraugus co. 31 

85 Earthwork east of Cattaraugus creek, Erie co 65 

86 Fort in Ulysses 2 m. s. w. of \\^aterburg, Tompkins co. . 155 

87 Fortification near Pompey Center, Onondaga co 124 

Plate 16 

88 Fort near Dansville, Livingston co 85 

89 Mounds near the Onondaga outlet in Geddes, Onondaga 

CO 116 

90 Circular work in Ellington, Chautauqua co 48 

91 Fort at Racket River near Massena, St Lawrence co. . . . 139 



4. 



IN DEX 



The superior figures tell the exact place on the page in ninths; e. g. ii' 
means page ii, beginning in the third ninth of the page, i. e. about one 
third of the way down. 



Adams, works in, 76*. 

Adiquatangie, 59^ 

Adirondack lakes, sites near, 72^ 

Adirondacks, hunting grounds of 
Five Nations, 66*, 72^ 

Alabama, works in, 68^. 

Albany, ceremonial objects from, 28'; 
cleared land, 28^; fort, 2.^. 

Albion, relics found in, 132^. 

Algonquins, territory occupied by, 
II^ 15^ 22*, 24^ 26^; in Greene 
CO., 71*; in Rensselaer co., 138'; in 
Ulster CO., 156^; in Westchester co., 

I59^ 

Alipconck, i6i\ 
Allegheny river, 34\ 
Amagansett, Indian well, I50^ 
Amawalk, 159^ 

Amber, relics found near, i2i\ 
Amenia, cemetery, 6o\ 
Amity, forts, 29^ 
Amityville, fort near, 1051 
Amsterdam, cache, 103^; paintings' on 

rocks, 105^; sites near, 105°. 
Andagoron, I05^ 

Andastes, territory occupied by, 15^. 
Angelica, earthworks in, 29^ 
Annsville, sites, no*, I59^ 
Antones, sf- 
Antouhonorons, 50^ 
Aquebogue, cemetery near, I49^ 
Armonck lake, I6o^ 



Assereawe, 102^ 

Asserue, 102*. 

Assinisink, 147^ 

Astoria, relics found in, I38^ 

Attiwandaronks, territory occupied 

by, i\\ \of. 
Auburn, works near, z^^-Zl^- 
Augusta, sites, III^ 
Aurelius, site of Indian village, 37^ 
Auriesville, village site, I04^ 
Aurora, site of Indian village, 39^; 

stockade near, 39^ 
Ausable river, 57^ 
Authorities referred to, 6-10. 
Avoca, site, 147*. 
Avon, work in, 8i^ 

Baldwin's creek, 51'. 

Balwinsville, sites, II4^ 115^ 
Banagiro, I02^ 
Barton, camps, 1541 
Batavia, sites near, 68^, 70^. 
Bear castle of 1642, I05^ 
Beardstown, 83^ 

Beauchamp, W. M., Onondaga's cen- 
tennial, iS^; report on Huron-Iro- 
quois territory, I8^ 

Bedford, cemetery, 159^; sites, i6o\ 

Beekman, relics found in, 60*. 

Belleville, fort near, 77*. 

Bellmore, lodge sites, I05^ 

Bellona site, i66l 



174 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Belmont, forts, 29^ 

Belvidere, Seneca village at, 29^; 

forts, 29°. 
Bemus point, sites, 45*. 
Benton, site, i66\ 
Bergen, cemetery, 71^ 991 
Bergen island, shell heaps, 8o^ 
Berne, relics found in, 28^ 
Bethel, village near, 58^ 
Bethlehem, arrowheads from, 27^; 

ceremonial objects from, 28\ 
Bibliography, 6-10. 
Big Choconut creek, 3i\ 
Big Flats, Indian village, 50^ 
Big Indian creek, 31^ 32". 
Big Salmon creek, village site, 40*. 
Big Stream, site, i66l 
Big Tree, 831 

Binghamton, relics found near, 31^. 
Birch creek, 140°. 
Black lake, i4o\ 
Black river, 8o^ 

Black river village, fort near, 74^ 
Blodgett Mills, site, 58*. 
Blooming Grove, site, 131^. 
Bluff point, relics foUnd at, 36^ 
Bolton, Robert, History of West- 
chester CO., 18'. 
Boston, French axes found in, 64^. 
Boundaries, I4^ 
Boutonville, cemetery, I59^ 
Brainard, site, I39\ 
Branchport, cemetery near, I65^ 
Brant, Joseph, home of, / f. 
Breakabeen, site, I44\ 
Brewerton, camps, 117^ 133', 133*. 
Bridgeport, site near, II7^ 
Bristol, sites, I28^ 

Broadalbin, arrowheads found near, 
6f- 

Brocton, roadways near, 41^ 
Brookhaven, wigwams and shell 

heaps, I49^ 
Brooklyn, relics found in, 8ol 



Brotherton Indians, 
Brownsville, ossuary near, 74^ 
Brutus, supposed fort in, 35'. 
Bucklin's corners, 47^ 
Buffalo, sites, 6I^: relics, 65'. 
Burlingham, cemetery and village, 
151'. 

Burrell creek, 126^ i29'-30'. 
Burr's Mills, sites near, 75^ 761 
Buskirk Bridge, site near, 138*. 
Butler, arrow and spearheads, isS\ 
Butternut creek, 112®, 136^. 
Byram lake, i6o^ 163^. 

Cahaniag^, 102^ 

Caledonia, 93^ relics found in, 8o\ 
Cambria, mound, fort and cemetery, 
io8'-9-, 

Cambridge, relics found in, 1581 

Cameron, camps, 147®. 

Canadaway creek, 43^. 

Canaenada, 126^ i3o\ 

Canagara, I03^ 

Canagere, loi^ I02^ 

Canagora, 126^ I29^ 

Canajoharie, Indian sites, 73*, loi', 

102^-3^ 1041 
Canajorha, I02^ 

Canandaigua, sites, 127*, 127", i28\ 
Canandaigua lake, 128^ 130*, 1641 
Canarsie, shell heaps, 8o^ 
Canarsies, territory occupied by, 13^, 

79^ 

Canaseraga, 89^ 

Canaseraga creek, sites on, 83^ 84^ 

85^85^86^ 
Canastota, site, 92^ 
Canawaugus, 81', 83^ 
Candor, sites near, I5I^ 
Caneadea, Seneca village, 29*. 
Canfield, camps near, I52^ 153*. 
Canisteo, site. 147^ stockades, 147'. 
Canisteo Indians, 85'. 
Canisteo river, I47^ 



INDEX TO ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



Canoga, birthplace of Red Jacket, 

I45^ 

Canoga creek, I45^ 
Canohage, 132^ 
Canopus Indians, I37^ 
Canowaraghere, 89^ 
Canowarode, IOI^ 

Capitanasses, territory occupied by, 

I2^ I5^ 

Carantouan, 152*, 
Carantouanis, 49®-5o\ 
Carenay, 102°. 
Carlton, I3I^ 

Carrollton, circular work, 34^ 
Carthage, village site, 75^ 
Cassadaga creek, 43", 47^ 
Cassadaga lake, 44°. 
Cassel of Taregiorus, I04^ 
Castile, site, 164^ 
Castile creek, fort on, 35^ 
Castle creek, location, 3I^ 
Cat, nation of the, 42*, 107^ 
Catatonk, camps, 151^ 
Catatonk creek, I5I^ 
Catharine, location, I44^ 
Catharine creek, 5ol 
Cato, Onondagas in, 36^ 
Catskill, sites near, 57^ 71^ 
Catskill creek, 28^ 

Cattaraugus creek, 31^ 32^ 35^ 64^- 
65^ 

Caughdenoy, 133^ 
Cawaoge, ioi\ 

Cayadutta creek, stockade, 67®. 

Cayuga, Indian village, 35^; relics 
found near, 37^ 

Cayuga Castle, 38', 39'. 

Cayuga island, I09^ 

Cayuga lake, Frontenac island, 38^ 

Cayugas, territory occupied by, 
I5^ 35^ ^f, I40^ 144'; one of the 
Five Nations, 24®; in St Lawrence 
CO., 140'; in Seneca co., I44^ 

Cayuta creek, 154^. 



Cazenovia creek, 63^ 66\ 
Cazenovia lake, sites near, 87^ 
Cazenovia village, sites, 87^-88*. 
Cemeteries, 16^, 20^-2i\ 24\ 
Champlain, fort attacked by, 88*. 
Champlain valley, dwelling sites, 54'. 
Chapinville, relics found at, 130^ 
Charlotte ferry, 94^ 
Charlotte river, 59^, 135*. 
Charlton, cache of flints, I42\ 
Chaumont, fishing camps, 78^ . 
Chautauqua lake, 42^ 44^ 451 
Chemung, location, 51*; .sites near, 
51'. 

Chenandoanes, 83®. 

Chenango, aboriginal occupation, 

Chenango canal, 52^ 

Chenango Forks, Indian village, 30*, 

53^ camp sites, 31^ 
Chenango river, 53^ S4^ 
Cheney, A. T., paper on earthworks, 

i8\ 

Chenussio, %f. 

Cherry Valley creek, 136", I36\ 
Chili, mound, 93*. 
Chittenango creek, 86^, 92^, wf. 
Choharo, 37^ 

Chonondote, an Indian town, 39^ 

Chugnutts, location, 30^ 

Churchville, cemetery in, 99^ 

Cicero, camps, 117*. 

Cincinnatus creek, IIO^ 

Clarence, works near, 62^-63\ 

Clark, J. S., credit due, 18^; maps 
prepared by, I25^ 

Clark, J. V. H., description of earth- 
works, I7^ 

Clarksville, camps, 28^ 

Clayton, fort near, 73^ 

Clear creek, works on, 47^-48', 48'- 
49^ 

Clifton Springs, sites, i26'-2f. 



176 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Clinton, Gov. De Witt, memoir on 

N. Y. earthworks, 17^. 
Clinton, skeletons found near, iii^ 
Clyde, site, 158'. 

Cochecton, burial place near, 15 1\ 
Cohoes, Mohawks' fishing place, 28*, 
I42^ 

Colchester, Indian village, 58^ 

Cold Spring, mound in, 33^; sites 

near, 137^; Matinecocks at, I48^ 
Cold Spring creek, 33^ 34*. 
Cole's brook, 58'. 

Colliersville, sites near, 135^; camp, 
I36^ 

Condawhaw, I44^ 
Conestogas, I5^ 
Conesus, location, 82^ 
Conewango, burial mounds, 32^ 
Conihunto, location, 54^ 
Con-nugh-harie-gugh-harie, 142'. 
Conquest, relics found near, 36\ 
Cooperstown, relics found in, I34^ 
Copake, site in, 57^ 
Corchaugs, territory occupied by, 

Coreorgonel, 155^ 

Corlaer, see Van Corlaer, 

Corning, relics found near, I47^ 

Cornplanter, birthplace of, 81^. 

Cortlandt, site, isgl 

Cough-sa-ra-ge, 72^ 

Craig colony lands, sites on, 86^ 

Cranberry lake, 140'. 

Crane's lake, I59^ 

Crooked lake, I38^ 

Cross lake, 36', II4^ 

Cross river, 159®. 

Croton point, earthworks, IS9^ 

Crown Point, 66^ 

Crusoe creek, 158^ 

Cutchogue, sites, 149'. 

Cuylerville, site, 83''-83*. 

Bans Kammer, 131'. 



Dansville, site, 85*. 
Danube, Indian castle, 73^ 
Davenport's neck, 162^, I63^ 
David's Island, 163^ 
Day, cemetery, 141°. 
Dayton, burial mound, 32^ 
Deansville, Indians in, III^ 
Deerfield, lodge sites, III^ 
Defensive works, descriptions and 

surveys, 167*. 
Delaware river, 58^-59^. 
Delawares, territory occupied by, 

59°; in Steuben co., I47^ 
Delphi, sites near, 88^; stockade, 

I24^ 

Denning's point, relics found at, 6o^ 
Deonundagaa, 83^ 

Depauville, fort and cemetery, 73'; 

relics found near, 78^ 
Descriptions, suggestions for, i6y^. 
Dewittville, cemetery at, 45'. 
Ditches, descriptions, 167*. 
Dobbs Ferry, i6i^ I63^ 
Doty, L. L., History of Livingston 

county, 18*. 
Dresden, cemeteries, i66\ 
Dwellings, location of, 22^-23°. 
Dynneganooh, site, 8o^ 
Dyudoosot, 82^ 
Dyuhahgaih, location, 82^ 
Dyu-non-dah-ga-seh, 83^ 

Earlville, relics found in, 92*. 
Earthworks, near boundaries of 

New York, 16^; of northern Ohio, 

21^-22^; 

of N. Y., antiquity, 20', 21'; 
builders, 2o'^-2i^; erected by Iro- 
quois, 21®; form, i9®-2o\ 23®; in- 
crease "n frequency westward, 23"*; 
number, 22^; number built in a 
century, 25^; situation, 20"*; pub- 
lications on, I7\ 19'. 



INDEX TO ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



177 



East Aurora, French axes found 

near, 63^; sites, 64^ 
East Bloomfield, sites, 126", I26^ 127'. 
East Cayuga, location, 39*. 
East Chester, sites, i6i\ 
East Hampton, Sachem's hole, 150*; 

cemetery, I50^ 
East Randolph, relics found in, 33^ 
East Syracuse, skeletons found in, 

I20^ 

Eaton, Oneida fisheries near, gal 

Edwardsville, site, i4o\ 

Eight Mile creek, 1341 

Elbridge, Indians in, 112^; earth- 
works, 117^-18'; sites, iiS'-ipl 

Elizabethtown, arrowheads found at, 
66\ 

Elko, Seneca village, 34*. 

Ellenburg, sites near, 56'. 

Ellery, mounds, 45^. 

Ellington, works near, 47^ 48*-49\ 

Ellisburg, ossuaries, 76', 77*. 

Elmira, sites near, 50^-5 il 

Ephrata, site, 67*. 

Erieehronons, 42*, 107^ 

Eries, territory occupied by, 11®; in 

Chautauqua co., 41^. 
Erwin, site, 1471 

Esopus Indians, 15^ 59^ 131^, 156*. 

Fabius, stockade, 124*. 
Fayette, sites, 145^ 146^-47'. 
Fayetteville, Deep Spring near, i2ol 
Fenner, sites in, 88*. 
Fentonville, human bones found 
near, 49'. 

Figures, description of, see page 169. 
Fishkill, cemeteries and orchards in, 
6o\ 

Five Nations, 24^; territory occupied 

by, 12°, 22*. 
Flatlands, shell heaps, 80'. 
Fleming, site of Indian village, 39*. 
Flemingville, camps, 151"; site, 151*. 



Flushing, sites in, 137°. 

Fort Hunter, village at, I05\ 

Fort Miller, relics found in, 1581 

Fort Plain, site near, 1041 

Fox Ridge, relics found near, 36*. 

Fredonia, works near, 42^-431 

French creek, yf, 78'. 

French fort and mission of 1656, 

I20\ 

Frewsburg, skeletons found in, 4g^. 
Frey, S. L., description of Mohawk 

valley sites, i8l 
Frontenac's fort, i2ol 
Fulton, site near, 133'. 
Fultonham, cemetery near, 1431 
Fultonville, site near, 1051 

Gachoos, territory occupied by, 12*, 

15', 50'. 
Gadao, 164^ 

Gahnyuhsas, location, 82^ 
Galen, site, I58l 
Ganagora, 102^. 
Ga-nah-da-on-twa, 83°. 
Ganasegago, 85*. 
Gandachiragou, 81*. 
Gandawague, 103'. 
Gandougarae, 126^ 127^ 
Gannounata, 82^. 
Ganowauga, 103^ 
Ganundasa, 84°. 
Ganundesaga, 129^. 
Gardeau, 164^ 
Gardiner's bay, 148^ • 
Gardiner's island, 149'. 
Garoga, Indian villages, 67'. 
Garoga creek, 102'. 
Garrettsville, sites, 1361 
Gasport, mound, logl 
Gathsegwarohare, Ss^. 
Gath-she-gweh-oh, 83^. 
Gaundowaneh, site near, 83*. 
Gaustarax, home of, 84\ 
Gayagaanha, location, 38'. 



178 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Geddes, sites, ii6l 

Geneganstlet creek, 53^ 

Genesee Castle, 83^ 

Genesee Falls, site, 164^ 

Genesee river, 29^ 8i^ 94*, 

Geneseo, 83^; sites in, 83^ 

Genesinguhta, a Seneca village, 34^ 

Geneva, sites near, I29\ 

Genoa, Sterner site, 40^; Indian 
fields, 40^; graves near, 41^. 

Gerritsen's bay, 148". 

Gerry, description of site, 45^-46". 

Gerry center, 47^ 

Gewauga, location, 38\ 

Glasco, site, 1561 

Glenville, site, 142*. 

Gowanda, relics found near, 32^; 
forts near, 35°. 

Granby, circular work in, 133*. 

Graves, 16', 20^-2i\ 24^; examina- 
tion, I67^ 

Great Gully brook, 38^ 

Great Valley, council house, 34^ 

Greece, skeletons found in, 93\ 

Green Haven, cache found at, 60*. 

Green mountains, inhabited by Iro- 
quois, 55l 

Greenburg, site, i6il 

Greene, burial mound, 53*; relics 
found near, 54^; camp sites near, 

Greenport, sites, I49^ 
Groton, skeletons found in, 154®. 
Groveland, sites near, 86^ 
Grovenor Corners, camp, 143^ 
Guilderland, arrowheads from, 27®. 
Gunnygunter, location, 54". 

Hamburg-, relics found in, 64^, 64^. 
Hamilton, camping ground, 92'. 
Hammondsport, camps and arrow- 
heads, 147^ 
Hamptonsburg, site, 131*. 
Hanover Center, fort near, 49^ 



Harkness, site near, 57^ 

Harris, G. H., aboriginal occupation 

of lower Genesee valley, i8\ . 
Havana, site near, 144^. 
Hemlock lake, 82^ 
Hempstead, shell heaps, Io6^ 
Henderson bay, 76^ 
Henrietta, site near, 93*; skeletons 

found in, I00^ 
Herkimer, site, 73^ 
Hermitage, 85^ 

Hinmansville, site near, 133^; earth- 
work, 134*. 

Hinsdale, circular fort, 35\ 

Hoffmans Ferry, camp site, 142'; 
relics found near, 143'. 

Hogonock, relics found at, i5o\ 

Holland Patent, site near, IIO^ 

Homer, caches in, 58^ 

Honeoye, sites, I27^ 

Honeoye creek, 96\ 98^ gg^, 127*. 

Honeoye Falls, sites, 8i^ 99"; ceme- 
tery near, 81*. 

Hoosick river, I38^ 

Horseheads, sites near, 50^ 

Hough, F. B., work on N. Y. an- 
tiquities, i8\ 

Houghton, Indian cemetery near, 
29'. 

Hounsfield, works, 74^ 

Hudson River, history of Indian 

tribes, by E. M. Ruttenber, 16'. 
Hunter, Old fort, yf. 
Hunter island, i63\ 
Huntington, Matinecocks at, 148*. 
Huron-Iroquois, see Iroquois. 
Hutchinson river, 163^. 

Indian Castle, yf, 73'. 

Indian fort, location, 123'. 
Indian hill, 123^. 
Indian ladder, 28*. 
t'lonnontego, I02^ 
Irocoisia, 55^ 



INDEX TO ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



Irondequoit bay, 72^ 94^, 96°. 

Iroquois, territory occupied by, 11*, 
12^ 15^ 22*, 24'; date of con- 
federacy, 12''; boundaries, I4^ 14"; 
not descendants of mound build- 
ers, or early visitors, 20*; Five na- 
tions, 24^; distinguishing habita- 
tions, 26°. 

Italyhill, site, 165'. 

Ithaca, sites, 155^ 

Jamaica, occupied by Canarsies, 79*; 

site, 137'. 
Jameco Indians, I37^ 
Jamestown, mounds near, 49*. 
Jamesville, fort near, 35^ 
Jemison, Mary, burial place, 6I^ 
Jesuit relations, referred to, 35**, 37^ 

42*, I07^ 

Johnson, Sir William, on villages in 
1763, 35'; stockades built by, S7\ 
121^, 143*^; fort built by, 129'. 

Kaaterskill, site near, 71'. 
Kagatinga, grave of, 135^. 
Kahkwahs, 62^. 
Ka Kouagoga, 61". 
Kanadesaga, 1291 
Kanagiro, I02^ 

Kanawageas reservation, 8o''-8i\ 
Kanawlohalla, location, 51^ 
Kaneenda site of 1700, 116^-17^ 
Kanoalohale, 89^ 
Kanuskago, Ss^ 

Karathyadirha, Seneca village, 29*'. 
Kashong, location, 130^ i66l 
Kauderback creek, I05^ 
Keinthe, 81*, 99'. 
Kendaia, site, 144^ I45^ 
Kienuka, fort, I07^ 
Killbuck, a deserted village, 34^ 
King Hendrick, home of, 73^ 
Kings Ferry, cemetery near, 40'. 
Kingston Point, site, is6\ 



Kirkland, Samuel, description of 

forts in the Seneca country, 17^ 
Kirkland, Indians in, iii^. 
Kitchawanc, 162^. 
Kitchawunks, 159*. 
Knox, relics found in, 28^ 
Kowogconugharie-guharie, 73^ 

La Concepcion, 98^ 

La Fayette, site, 121^ 

Lake Champlain, aboriginal occupa- 
tion, 54*^-57"; occupation before 
Huron war, 55^; sites, 66*. 

Lake George, sites, i57'-58'. 

Lake Keuka, 165". 

Lake Lamoka, I44^ 

Lake Magrigaries, I59^ 

Lake Neatawantha, 133^. 

Lake Ontario, 158^; sites near, 132". 

Lake Pleasant, 72". 

Lake Ronkonkoma, I49^ 

Lake Tichero, 35^. 

Lake Waccabuck, 160*. 

Lancaster, works near, 62^, 6f. 

Lansingburg, site, I38^ 

Lapeer, camp in, 58". 

Lapinikan, 107^. 

La Presentation, 140'. 

Larkin, Dr Frederick, ancient man 
in America, i8^ 

Ledyard, stockade in, 38^ 39^; site, 
39^; cemetery, 40^ 

Leeds, sites near, 71^ 

Leicester, sites in, 83', 83', 84'. 

Lenox, relics found near, 89^; 
church in, 92*, 

Leon, burial mounds, 32^; relics 
found in, 33^ 

Le Ray, sites in, 74', 

Le Roy, fort hill, 69"^; site near, 70'. 

Lewisboro, cemetery in, I6o^ 

Lewiston, sites near, io7''-8'. 

Libertyville, site, 157'. 

Lima, works near, 81°. 

Limestone creek, 112'. 



i8o 



XEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Lindley, cache, I48\ 
Little Ausable river, 57^ 
Little Beard's town, 83'. 
Little Neck, relics found in, I37^ 
Little Schoharie creek, i^f. 
Littleville, relics found at, 130'. 
Liverpool, sites near, ii6^ II9^ 
Livonia, stockade, 81^-82^; works 

near, 82*. 
Lysander, camps at, 113". 
Locke, description of site, 40^-4i\ 
Lockport, stone mound, 109'; ring 

fort near, 109^ 
Lockwood, camp, I54^ 
Lodi, cemetery, 146^ 
Long Island, aboriginal occupation, 

79'-8o^ sites, 106', 137^ 148'. 
Long Island tribes, 13'. 
Longpoint, bank near, 45^ 
Loudonville, arrowheads from, 27^- 

2S\ 

Lounsberry, relics found near, I52^ 
Lowman, village near, 5I^ 

Macomb, sites, 140®. 

Madison lake, 92^ 

Mahikans, territory occupied by, I3^ 
15*, 57', 59', 138'; lands sold by, 
I5^ 27^ fort at Albany, 29\ 

]\Iahopac Indians, 137'. 

Mamaroneck, site, 162^. 

^Manchester, burial place, 126'. 

Manchester Center, village near, 130'. 

Manhassets, territory occupied by, 

Manhattans, territory occupied by, 

I3^ 

Manlius, camp, 86^; site near, I23^ 

Manursing island, 162^. 

Mapleton, site, 39*. 

Maps of Huron-Iroquois territory, 
19^; showing aboriginal occupa- 
tion of N. Y., 25^-26^; prepared by 
J. S. Clark, 125^; of Indian sites, 
town and county, desired, 166'^. 



Marathon, site, 58^ 
Marbletown, fort in, 156^ 
Marcy, village site, 
]Maringoman's castle, I3I^ 
Marsapeagues, territory occupied by, 

13^; fort of, losl 
Marshall, Indians in, iii^ 
]vlartin Gerritsen's bay, 148'. 
Martinsburg, relics from, 80', 
Maryland, camp, 136*. 
Maspeths, home, I38\ 
Massena, sites, 139', 141'. 
Massena Centre, relics found near, 

I4I^ 

Matinecocks, territory occupied by, 

I3^ 137": on Long Island, 148^ 
Matouwacks, 13^ 
]\Iatteawan creek, 59^ 60'. 
^Mecklenburg, site, 144'. 
^Mendon, site, gS\ 
-Mentz, earthwork in, 36^ 
^Merikokes, territory occupied by, 

13', Io6^ 

Michigan, Indian spring, 131'. 
Middleburg, site, I43^ 
]\Iiddlefield, relics found near, 136'. 
Middlesex, site, 164^. 
Middletown, Indian village, 51^. 
Milan, site near, 40^ 
]Milford, sites, 1361 
^lill brook, 58^-59'. 
Milo, grave, 165^ 
Milton ferry, village site, 6o^ 
^linden, work in, I03®-4^ 
^linisink, village and cemetery, 131*, 
Minquas, territory occupied by, I5^ 
Minsis, territory occupied by, 15^ 
Mississauges, 97^ 
Mistucky, I3I^ 
]\Ioenemines, 138'. 
]Mohawk river, 142*. 
^vlohawk village, relics found near, 
73'. 



INDEX TO ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK l8l 



Mohawks, territory occupied by, I3^ 
66'; one of the Five nations, 24^; 
first town, 135"; in Chenango co., 
54^; fishing place at Cohoes, 28*, 
142'; in Franklin co., 67^; in Fulton 
CO., 67°; in Herkimer co., 73^; in 
Montgomery co., 100^; at Schenec- 
tady, 1421 

Mohegan lake, I59^ 

Mohegans, village, 143°, 162*. See 
also Mahikans. 

Mohickanders, in Chenango, 3i\ 

Montauk, earthwork, I5o^ 

Montauks, 13'. 

Montezuma, earthwork, 36^; fort 

near, 4i\ 
Montgomery, sites, I3i\ 
Moravian mission of 1740, 59'. 
Morgan, L. H., map of Ho-de-no- 

sau-nee-ga, 14*, i8\ 
Morris, sites, 136'. 
Moscow, village in, 84'. 
Mound builders, in Cattaraugus co., 

Mounds, rare in eastern counties, 

23'^; examinations, 167°. 
Mount Morris, mound, 84'. 
Mount Pleasant, site, i6i\ 
Mumford, skeletons found near, 94^. 
Munnsville, home of Oneidas, 86^, 

90^; sites near, 91*. 
Munseys, territory occupied by, 15^ 

147'. 
Myers, site, 40'. 

Nanapenahakan, 57^. 
Nanichiestawack, i6o\ 
Nanticokes, in Chenango, 31'. 
Naples, site, I28^ 
Napoli, mound, 33^ 
Nassau, site, I39\ 
Nelliston, cemetery near, 102'. 
Nepeague, fort, 150". 
Nesaquague, shell heaps, I48^ 



Nessaquagues, territory occupied by, 

Neutrals, territory occupied by, II^ 

107''; towns, 60'. 
New Berlin, relics found in, 53°-54\ 
NevvT Castle, site, I6o^ 
New Paltz, site, 157'. 
New Rochelle, Davenports neck, 

162^ 1631 
New Scotland, relics found in, 28°. 
New York city, sites, 106^-7*. 
Newark, stone mortar found near, 

I59^ 

Newark Valley, mounds near, 15 1^ 

Newburgh, sites, 131^ 

Newstead, fort, 6f. 

Newtown, location, 51". 

Newtown creek, 138^ 

Niagara Falls, I09^ 

Niagara river, 107". 

Nichols, site, 152". 

Niles, earthwork, 4I^ 

Nine Mile creek, 121". 

Normanskill, 27^ 

North Castle, stockade, 160*. 

North Cayuga, location, 37''. 

North Elba, Indian occupation, 66°. 

North Hector, site, I44^ 

North Tonawanda, 109°. 

Norwich, sites near, 52'. 

Nowadaga, 73*. 

Nun-da-wa-o-no, 128'. 

Oak Or chard creek, 132*. 

Oakfield, fort, 68*. 

Ogdensburg, sites, 140*. 

Ohagi, location, 83^ 

Ohio, earthworks, 2i'-22\ 

Ohnowalagantle, 142'. 

Old Town, Cattaraugus co.. a 

Seneca village, 34'. 
Old Town, Cayuga co., location, 

39^ 

Olean, burial mound, 34". 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Olive, site, I56^ 

Olympic, sites, 149'. 

Onaghee, 127°, 128'. 

Oneida, location, 90', loi'. 

Oneida Castle, 112^; location, 89"\ 

Oneida creek, 112*. 

Oneida lake, 86^ iio", 117*, i34\ 

Oneida river, 133". 

Oneida stone, 9i\ 

Oneidas, territory occupied by, 13^ 
15"; one of the Five nations, 24^, 
at Canastota, 92'; in Chenango co., 
53^; in Chugnutts, 30®; in Livings- 
ton CO., 82^; in ^ladison co., 86', 
90"; in Oneida co., 109'; in Oswego 
CO., 133'. 

Onekagoncka, IOI^ 

Oneonta, mound, 135^; relics found 
near, 59^; sites, 136'. 

Onguiaahra, 60®, I07^ 

Oniagara, I07^ 

Oniskethau creek, camps, 28^ 

Onistade, location, 82'. 

Onoien, old name of Cayuga, 35^ 

Onondaga lake, 116*, iig^. 

Onondagas, territory occupied by, 
12', 15', 25=; one of the Five 
nations, 24^; in Cato, 36^; in Frank- 
lin CO., 67^; in ^Madison co., 89^; in 
Onondaga co., 112^, 121^, 121^; in 
Oswego CO., 133'; in St Lawrence 
CO., 140^ 

Onontare, burial place, 36"; Indian 

village, 35^ 
Onontisaston, 60®, I07^ 
Onoquaga, location, 31*. 
On-ti-ke-ho-mawck, I39\ 
Oquaga, relics found at, 3i\ 
Oriskany, skeletons found in, in'. 
Osguage, loi". 
Ossining, 160°. 

Ossuaries, I6^ 23", 44^ 62', 74', 76', 
Io8^ 

Oswegatchie, work in, 140*. 
Oswegatchies, I40^ 



Oswego, camps and relics, I34^ 
Oswego Falls, Bone hill, 133'; work 
at, 133'. 

Oswego river, 113', 133-, I33^ 
Otego, 54'; sites, 136". 
Otego creek, 135°. 
Otianhatague, 132^ 
Otisco lake, I2i\ 
Otsdawa creek, 136'. 
Otsego lake, I34^ 

Otsiningo, aboriginal occupation. 
31'- 

Otstungo creek, lof. 

Ouaroronon, 6o^ I07^ 

Ouleout, relics found near, 59*. 

Ounjune, I02^ 

Ovid, site, 146^. 

Owaiski, location, 30^ 

Owasco lake, camp on, 41*. 

Owego, camps, I52\ I53\ 

Owego creek, 151", I52\ 

Ox Creek, site near, I33^ 

Oxford, sites near, 52'-53*; home of 

the giant, 58^ 
Oyster bay, corn fields, 106^; sites, 

106". 

Pachami, territory occupied by, I3^ 

Pagus Ondataius, 61'. 

Pagus Ondiasacus, 6I^ 

Pagus Ondieronii, 61'. 

Painted Post, relics found at, 147'. 

Palatine, village, 105". 

Palatine Bridge, sites near, lof. 

Palisades, 24', 27\ 

Patchogues, territory occupied by, 
I4\ 149'- 

Pattersonville, relics found near, 142^ 
Peach Orchard, I44\ 
Peconic bay, 149", i5o\ 
Peekskill, site, I59^ 
Pelham, relics found in, 161^. 
Pelham bay, I63^ 

Penfield, fort in, gf; site near, gS^. 



INDEX TO ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



Penn Yan, sites, 165^ 
Pequots, graves, 6ol 
Perch lake, 73l 
Perch river, 78^ 
Perryville, sites near, 88*. 
Peru, site in, 57^ 
Phelps, site, I30^ 
Phillipsville, see Belmont. 
Phoenix, camps, 113", I33^ 
Phoenix Mills, relics found near. 
1361 

Pierrepont Manor, 77\ 

Pine Plains, village near, 591 

Piseco lake, 72'. 

Pittsford, limestone boulders, 9S\ 

Plates, description of, see page 169. 

Plattsburg, sites, 54'-55\ 56'. 

Poggatacut, 150*. 

Point Peter, earthwork, 32°. 

Pomfret, sites, 43^ 44'. 

Pompey, site, 122^ 123"^; stockade, 

124^; cemeteries, I25\ 
Pompey Plill, relics fo-und near, 122". 
Ponckhockie, village and cemetery, 

156^ 

Poolville, relics found in, 92*. 
Port Washington, village, io6\ 
Portage, site, 164^ 

Portland, circular works and old 
roadways, 42^ 

Portlandville, site, i35''-36'. 

Post creek, 147^ 

Potsdam, sites, I39^ 

Poughkeepsie, relics found near, 6ol 

Poundridge, site, I6o^ 

Preston Hollow, camps. 

Priest, Josiah, work on American an- 
tiquities, I7^ 

Quarry ville, graves near, 156*. 

Racket river, 139^. 
Racquetteville, sites, I39^ 
Randolph, relics found in, 33*. 



Red House, circular work, 34\ 
Red Jacket, birthplace of, 145''; 

burial place, 6I^ 
Rensselaerville, camps, 28\ 
Rexford Flats, site near, 142*. 
Rhinebeck, Sepascots at, 59^ 
Richfield Springs, sites near, I34^ 
Ridgeway, remains in, 131^ 
Robbins, Thomas, description of 

earthwork in Onondaga co., I7^ 
Rochester, sites near, 93^-95^ 
Rockaways, territory occupied by, 

13', io6l 
Rodman, works near, 76^, 77^, 
Rome, camps and relics, IIO^ 
Romulus, site, 145^, I46^ 
Roseboom, site, 136*. 
Rosendale, site, i57\ 
Rotterdam, relics found in, 142^ 
Round lake, site, I42\ 
Runonvea, 5o^ 

Rush, sites in, 96^ 100*; camp near, 

99^ 

Rutland, bone pit, 74*; works, 76^ 
Rutledge, mound, 35^ 
Ruttenber, E. M., History of the 
Indian tribes of Hudson River, 16^. 
Rye, site, 162^. 
Rye Pond, 160'. 

Sacandag-a lake, camps near, 72". 
Sacandaga river, I4I^ 
Sachus, I59^ 
Sackhoes, I59^ 

Sag Harbor, site, 150^; Sachem's 

hole, 150*. 
St Jacques, 126^ 
St Johnland, cemeteries, 148^. 
St Johnsville, cemetery near, I02^ 
St Joseph*, Indian village, 35^ 
St Lawrence river, 66®. 
St Lawrence village, 78^ 
St Michael, 126'. 
St Regis, inhabitants, 6y^. 



i84 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



St Rene, Indian village, ss^. 

St Stephen's, Indian village, 35^ 37^ 

Salem, relics found in, I58^ 

Salina, camps in, II9^ 

Salmon creek, 38', 40*. 

Salmon river, 57^, 132^ 

Sammonsville, stockade, 67®. 

Sand Lake, site, I38^ 

Sanders lake, 142'. 

Sandy creek, 77°. 

Sanfords Corners, works near, 74'- 
75^ 

Saponies, I55^ 
Saranac, site in, 56^ 
Saranac^iver, 56®. 

Saratoga, purchase, I3^ 15'; sites, 
I4i«. 

Saugerties, sites, 156*. 
Savannah, earthwork, 158'. 
Scandlesville, camps, I5I^ 
Schaghticoke, location, I38\ 
Schenectady, sites, 142', 142^ 
Schenevus creek, I35^ 
Schenevus lake, 136*. 
Schoharie, site, I43^ 
Schoharie creek, 100', 105*. 
Schoharies, territory occupied by, 
143^ 

Schoolcraft, H. R., notes on N. Y. 

antiquities, 17^; quoted, 21*. 
Schuyler, Capt. John, trading post 

built by, 97l 
Schuyler Falls, site in, 57\ 
Scipio, Indian fields, 40"; site on 

lot 15, 41'. 
Scipioville, site, 39^ 
Scottsville, sites near, 93*, 100"; camp 

near, 99^ 

Secataugs, territory occupied by, 13®- 

I4\ 149'- 
Sehanatisse, 102°. 
Senatsycrosry, lOi*. 
Seneca, sites, I29^ 
Seneca castle, second, 98^ 



Seneca Falls, site, 145*. 
Seneca lake, 144", 145^, 145^, 146^ 146*, 
i66\ 

Seneca river, 36', 41', 113^ 115*, 117', 
144'. 

Senecas, one of the Five nations, 
24'; battle with Kahkwahs, 62'; 
council house, 84'. 

territory occupied by: 12', 15', 
25"; in Allegany county, 29*; in 
Cattaraugus county, 34*; in Erie 
county, 61^; in Livingston county, 
80^; in Monroe county, 93^, 97*; 
in Niagara county, 107^; in On- 
tario county, 125^; in Seneca 
county, I44^ See also Antouhon- 
orons. 

Sennett, site, 36^ 

Sepascots, territory occupied by, 59^ 
Setaukets, territory occupied by, 13'. 
Sgahisgaaah, location, 8i\ 
Shawangunk, site, 157*. 
Shawnees, in Chenango, 31'; at 

Chugnutts, 30®. 
Shelby Center, circular work near, 

132'. 

Shelter island, 149*. 
Sheoquaga, 144^. 

Sherburne, relics found near, 5i°-52'. 
Sheridan, circular work, 43**; relics 

found in, 42^; ossuary, found in, 44*. 
Shinnecock Hills, sites near, 149'. 
Shinnecocks, territory occupied by, 

I4^ 

Sidney, Indian fort, 58°. 
Sinamon Indians, i6i^ 
Sinclairville, description of sites, 45'- 

46^ 47^ 
Sing Sing creek, 50'. 
Sint Sincks, 160'. 

Sites, arrangement of description of, 
25*. 

Siwanoys, i6i*. 
Skaneateles, camps in, 120'. 



INDEX TO ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK l8i^ 



Skaneateles lake, 120°. 
Skaniadarighroonas, at Chiignutts, 

Skannayutenate, 145". 
Skoiyase, 145^. 

Sleepy Hollow, Indian graves, 7l^ 
Slingerland flats, camps, 28*. 
Sloansville, stone heap near, I43^ 
Smithboro, camps near, 152*. 
Smith's Basin, sites, 158*. 
Smoke's creek, 66\ 
Sodus, sites, 97*. 

Sodus Point, arrowheads and celts, 
I58^ 

Sohanidisse, IOI^ 
Somers, site, 159^ 
Sonnontouan, 99'. 
Sonojowauga, 84". 
Sonoyawa, 86'. 

South Lansing, graves found in, I54^ 

South Salem, cemetery, 159®. 

South Stockton, description of 
works, 46'^-47^ 

Southampton, sites near, 149°. 

Southold village, sites, I49^ 

Spafford, site, 120°. 

Sparta, mound, 86*. 

Sprakers, village at, 104'. 

Springlake, relics found near, 36\ 

Spring-port, sites, 38^-39'. 

Springwater, mound, 82^ 

Squakie Indians, 85^ 

Squier, E. G., work on N. Y. an- 
tiquities, 17^; on situation of N. Y. 
earthworks, 20'; on builders of 
earthworks, 20^-21^; opinion re- 
garding N. Y. earthworks, 17^ 19"- 

20^ 2I^-22^ 

Staatsburg, village site, 60*. 
Staten island, relics found on, I39^ 
Stedman, skeletons found near, 45\ 
Steep Hill creek, 83^ 
Stillwater flats, camp, 54^ 
Stittville, village site, 



Stockades, description, 167*. 

Stockbridge, relics found in, 89*; 
sites near, 91°. 

Stockbridge Indians, territory occu- 
pied by, 28', 135', 139'. 

Stockton, relics found in, 42\ 

Stone Arabia, village site, I03\ 

Stony Brook, shells found at, I49\ 

Stony Hills, cemetery, 160°. 

Stuyvesant, arrowheads from, S7^- 

ljugar Loaf mountain 131°. 

Susquehanna river, 58', 59^ 134^ 135', 
135', 136', 151'. 

Susquehannas, 15°. 

Swahyawana, I46^ 

Syracuse, sites, 117*. 

Taghkanic creek, I55\ 
Taghkanick, location, 57^ 
Taghkanick mountains, 59'. 
Tarrytown, site, i6i\ 
Tawasentha, 27^ 

Taylor, John, accounts of forts in 

Jefferson co., I7^ 
Tedarighroones, I55^ 
Tegatainedaghque, 68^-69*. 
Tehondaloga, I05\ 
Tenotoge, 101°. 

Territories of aboriginal nations of 
N. Y., 11-16. 

Thenondiogo, 102', 104^. 

Theresa, relics found near, 78^ 

Thiohero, Indian village, 3.5^ 3,7^ 

Thomas, Cyrus, account of earth- 
works, I8^ 

Thompson's lake, camp on, 28^ 

Three Mile harbor, 150'. 

Throopsville station, cemetery near, 

4I^ 

Ticonderoga, relics found in, 66^ 

Tioga, cemetery, 151^ 

Tioga Center, camp near, 153*. 

Tioga Ferry, site, 152^ 

Tioga Point, sites, 153°. 



i86 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Tioga river. 147", 148'. 

Tionoiidogue, 102''. 

Tiotehatton, 98'. 

Tioughnioga river, 31', 53', 58'. 

Tivoli, village site, 6o^ 

Tonawanda, site, 61^; modern Seneca 

village, 681 
Tonawanda creek, 108", I09^ 
Totiacton, 99^ 
Totieronno, I55^ 

Tottenville, relics found near, 139'. 
Towanoendalough, first ]\Iohawk 

town, 135'. 
Traditions, of Indians, 21*. 
Trenton, village site, iio^. 
Tribeshill, village at, lof. 
Tunaengwant valley, 34^ 
Tunesassah, an Indian village, 34*. 
Turtle tribe, I02^ 
Tuscarora creek, 87^. 
Tuscaroras, added to Five nations. 

24'; 

territory occupied by; 25^; in 
Chugnutts, 30'^; in Livingston 
county, 83'; in ^ladison county, 
86", 89'; in Niagara county, 108'. 

Tuthilltown, site, IS7^- 

Tyoslioke creek, 

Tyscli-sa-ron-dia, 72^ 

Ulysses, sites, 1551 
Unadilla, sites, I35^ 
Unawats' castle, 28'. 
Union, sites, 30^ 

Union Springs, stone relics found 

near, 38". 
Unkechaugs, 149^ 
Upper Cayuga, location, 39". 
Upper Iroquois, 50'. 

Van Corlaer, Arent, travels, 86', 
90'. ioi\ 

Van Rensselaer, Killian, land pur- 
chased from Mahikans, I5^ I38^ 



Varick, camps, I45^ 

Venice, village site, 40^. 

Venice Center, graves near, 41^. 

Vermont, cemetery in, 47*^. 

Vernon, church in, 92'; methodist 

mission house, 112". 
Versailles, fort near, 35". 
Vestal, sites, 30^ 

Victor, sites, 127''; work on Bough- 
ton hill, I26^ 
A^isitors, early, historic importance, 

25% 26^ 

Wading river, 149'. 
Wallkill, 157'. 

Wampum trade, seat of, 148'. 
Waoraneaks, territory occupied by, 
if. 

Wappinger creek, 59^ 

Wappingers, territory occupied by, 

13', 59'. 
Warpoes, I07^ 
Warwick, site, 131^. 
Warynawaucks, 1 56^ 
Waterburg, sites, I55\ 
Waterloo, sites, 144^ 145^. 
Watertown, bone pit near, 74*; sites 

near, 75'; works near, 76^ 
Watervale, site near, 122^ 
Watervliet, arrowheads from, 28\ 
Watkins, site, I44^ 
Wauteghe, location, 54^ 
Waverly, Spanish hill, 152^; sites, 

I53^ 

Wawanaquassick, location, 57^. 
Wawarsing, site, 156^-57'. 
Weltonville, sites near, 15 
West Bloomfield, sites, 127*. 
West Chester, sites, i6i\ 162^ 
West Davenport, sites, 59^ 
West Henrietta, site, 95^ 
West Newark, sites near, I5I^ 
West Saugerties, graves near, 156*. 
West Troy, camp site, 28'. 



INDEX TO ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 187 



Westfield, remains of works in, 42°. 
Wetqueschek, I6I^ 
Wheatland, works in, 93^; Bony hill, 
I col 

White Plains, sites, I6I^ 
White springs, 126^ 129'. 
Whitney's Point, camp sites, 3I^ 
Wiccopees, territory occupied by, 
59'. 

Williamsville, relics found in, 65^ 
Wilson, mound, Io8^ 
Wiltmeet, fort, I56^ 
Wilton, sites, 141". 



Windsor, relics found at, 31''. 
Wirt, work near, 30^ 
Wolcott, site, 158^ I59\ 
Wynkoop creek, 5I^ 

Yonkers, sites, 161*. 
Yorktown, site, 159", 
Young, A. W., History of Chautau- 
qua, 18'. 

Zenunge, Sy^. 
Zonnesschio, 84^ 



I 



i 




University of the State of New York 

Object. The object of the University as defined by law is to encour- 
age and promote education in advance of the common elementary 
branches. Its field includes not only the work of academies, colleges, 
universities, professional and technical schools, but also educational work 
connected with libraries, museums, university extension courses and 
similar agencies. 

The University is a supervisory and administrative, not a teaching 
institution. It is a state department and at the same time a federation 
of more than 800 institutions of higher and secondary education. 

Government. The University is governed and all its corporate 
powers exercised by 19 elective regents and by the governor, lieutenant- 
governor, secretary of state and superintendent of public instruction who 
are ex officio regents. Regents are elected in the same manner as United 
States senators; they are unsalaried and are the only public officers in 
New York chosen for life. 

The elective officers are a chancellor and a vice-chancellor, who serve 
without salary, and a secretary. The secretary is the executive and 
financial officer, is under official bonds for $10,000, is responsible for the 
safe-keeping and proper use of the University seal and of the books, 
records and other property in charge of the regents, and for the proper 
administration and discipline of its various offices and departments. 

Powers and duties.. Besides many other important powers and 
duties, the regents have power to incorporate, and to alter or revoke the 
charters of universities, colleges, academies, libraries, museums, or other 
educational institutions ; to distribute to them funds granted by the state 
for their use ; to inspect their workings and require annual reports under 
oath of their presiding officers ; to establish examinations as to attain- 
ments in learning and confer on successful candidates suitable certificates, 
diplomas and degrees, and to confer honorary degrees. 

They apportion annually an academic fund of about $250,000, part 
for buying books and apparatus for academies and high schools raising 
an equal amount for the same purpose, $100 to each nonsectarian 
secondary school in good standing and the remainder on the basis of 
attendance and the results of instruction as shown by satisfactory com- 
pletion of prescribed courses for which the regents examinations afford 
the official test. The regents also expend annually $25,000 for the 
benefit of free public libraries. 

Regents meetings. The annual meeting is held the third Thurs- 
day in December, and other meetings are held as often as business 
requires. An executive committee of nine regents is elected at the 
annual meeting to act for the board in the intervals between its meetings, 
except that it can not grant, alter, suspend or revoke charters or grant 
honorary degrees. 

Convocation. The University convocation of the regents and the 
officers of institutions in the University, for consideration of subjects of 
mutual interest, has been held annually since 1863 in the senate chamber 
in Albany. It meets Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday after the fourth 
Friday in June. 

Though primarily a New York meeting, nearly all questions discussed 
are of equal interest outside of the state. Its reputation as the most im- 
portant higher educational meeting of the country has in the past few 
years drawn to it many eminent educators not residents of New York, 
who are most cordially welcomed and share fully in all discussions. It 
elects each year a council of five to represent it in intervals between 
meetings. Its proceedings, issued annually, are of great value in all 
educational libraries. 



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